Compare towns
Peru vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
China has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Peru | China |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
| China and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,535Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| China and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.