Compare towns
Peru vs Lee vs Canton
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 highest household income ($67k).
Lee has the most homeowners (97%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Highest |
925Lowest |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
| Lee and Peru 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% |
20.4%±4.6Lowest 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%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Lee 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest 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±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$52,458±$35k 30% below ME |
| Peru and Canton 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±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
| Lee and Canton 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 |
— | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton 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% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Lee 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.