What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Penobscot
People
Population	1,501Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Peru 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%	18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Penobscot 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%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Penobscot 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	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
	Peru and Penobscot 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	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME	$1,852Highest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Peru 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%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 56	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.