Compare towns
Peru vs Unity vs Canton vs Mexico
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 homeowners (90.2%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Canton | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,858 |
1,191Lowest |
2,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
| Peru and Mexico 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Canton 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
| Peru and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
| Unity and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
| Mexico and Unity 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Mexico 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
77% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Unity 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 | — | — | — | #130 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.