Compare towns
Peru vs Saco vs Mexico
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 homeowners (90.2%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k 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.
| Measure | Peru | Saco | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
20,819Highest |
2,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
| Peru and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Mexico 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Mexico 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% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Saco 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 |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME |
| Saco 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±$38k 52% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,027±$275 10% below ME |
| Saco and Mexico 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #130 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 56 | Saco Public Schools | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None 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.