Compare towns
Peru vs Lee vs Bradford
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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Bradford has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Lee | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Highest |
925Lowest |
1,254 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
49.7±8 11% above ME |
| Lee and Bradford 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Peru 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% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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±$19k 11% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$82,955±$26kHighest 11% above ME |
| Bradford 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 |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$176,200±$15kHighest 41% below ME |
| Bradford and Lee 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 |
— | $742±$392Highest 35% below ME |
| Bradford 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 |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,315Highest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Lee 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee 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 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.