Compare towns
Peru vs Sumner vs Wayne
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Sumner | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Highest |
845Lowest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
| Sumner and Wayne 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%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Wayne 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | RSU 38 |
| 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.