Compare towns
Peru vs Solon vs Sumner
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Solon has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Solon | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Highest |
963 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Solon 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% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Sumner 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 |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Solon 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 |
$183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Solon and Sumner 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 |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Peru 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% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 74/MSAD 74 | 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.