Compare towns
Peru vs Washington vs Danforth
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).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Washington | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,624Highest |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Danforth and Washington 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% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Washington 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% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Washington 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 |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
| Peru and Washington 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 |
$195,200±$36kHighest 34% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
| Washington and Peru 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 |
$1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$2,286Highest 25% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Peru 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.