Compare towns
Peru vs Readfield vs Sumner vs Dixfield
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).
Readfield has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Dixfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23%).
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 | Readfield | Sumner | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
2,651Highest |
845Lowest |
1,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
43±12Lowest 4% below ME |
| Sumner and Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Dixfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Readfield 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Readfield 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 |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$70,608±$16k 6% below ME |
| Readfield and Dixfield 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 |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$171,500±$68k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
— | $534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
| Readfield and Peru 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,400 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±20.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dixfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
14.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Sumner 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 38 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.