Compare towns
Peru vs Windsor vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($141k median).
Windsor has the most expensive homes ($229k median).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Windsor | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
2,690Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
43.5±8Lowest about the ME average |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington 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% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Washington 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% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 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 |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% 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 |
$228,800±$22kHighest 23% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Windsor and Washington 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 |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Windsor and Washington 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 |
$2,160 29% below ME |
$2,286Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Windsor 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington 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 12 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.