Compare towns
Peru vs Union vs Canton
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 oldest population (median age 48).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Union | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
2,663Highest |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
| Peru and Union 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school 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.