Compare towns
Peru vs Sumner vs Windsor
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Windsor has the most expensive homes ($229k 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 | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
845Lowest |
2,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
43.5±8Lowest about the ME average |
| 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Peru 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% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
| Peru and Windsor 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 |
$228,800±$22kHighest 23% below ME |
| Windsor 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 |
— | $1,265±$400Highest 11% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Windsor 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% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
36 min 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Peru 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 | — | — | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | RSU 12 |
| 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.