Compare towns
Peru vs Danforth vs Union
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 homeowners (90.2%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Danforth | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
666Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union 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±$38k 52% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.