Compare towns
Peru vs Jay 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 affordable homes ($141k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
4,657Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Peru and Union 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% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest 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%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Jay 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 |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 73 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.