Compare towns
Peru vs Eustis 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).
Eustis has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
Dixfield has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Eustis | Dixfield | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
453Lowest |
2,300Highest |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
59.1±14Highest 32% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
| Eustis and Sumner 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% |
15.5%±13.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 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% |
38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Eustis and Sumner 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% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±4.8 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 |
$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME |
$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 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 |
$262,200±$51kHighest 12% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$916±$547Highest 20% below ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
— |
| Eustis 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 |
$1,542Lowest 49% 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% |
66%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Eustis 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% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 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 |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | Eustis Public Schools | RSU 56 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dirigo High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.