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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 |
2,300Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Dixfield 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% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Sumner 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% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest 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% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 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 |
$70,613±$9kHighest 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 |
$160,900±$24kHighest 46% 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 |
$658±$287Lowest 42% 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 |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest 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 56 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dirigo High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.