Compare towns
Peru vs Exeter vs Washington
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).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Exeter | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,093Lowest |
1,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Exeter and Washington 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Washington 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$195,200±$36kHighest 34% below ME |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME |
| Washington and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,286Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Exeter 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.