Compare towns
Peru vs Solon 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).
Solon has the most expensive homes ($184k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Solon | Sumner | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
963 |
845Lowest |
1,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
43±12Lowest 4% below 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% |
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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.3%Highest 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% |
2.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Dixfield 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±$20k 7% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$70,608±$16kHighest 6% below ME |
| Dixfield and Solon 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 |
$171,500±$68k 42% below ME |
| Solon and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
— | $534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,400Highest 21% 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% |
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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.6% 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 |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest 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 | 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.