Compare towns
Peru vs Dixfield vs Sumner
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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Dixfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23%).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Dixfield | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,738Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
43±12Lowest 4% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Peru 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% |
19.3%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
28.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$70,608±$16kHighest 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Dixfield 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 |
$171,500±$68kHighest 42% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Dixfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
— |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,400Highest 21% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±20.2 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
14.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
83.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.