Compare towns
Peru vs Sumner vs Windham 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).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
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 | Sumner | Windham | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
845Lowest |
19,188Highest |
2,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Windham 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Windham 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
— | $1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | RSU 14 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.