Compare towns
Peru vs Steuben 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 affordable homes ($141k median).
Steuben has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Steuben | Sumner | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,388 |
845Lowest |
2,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
| Sumner and Dixfield 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% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Peru 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% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Peru 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 |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Steuben 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 |
$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Steuben and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$678±$319 40% below ME |
— | $658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Peru and Steuben 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 |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 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% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 24 | RSU 10 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.