Compare towns
Prospect vs Peru vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Stetson has the most people working from home (11%).
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 | Prospect | Peru | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 923Lowest |
1,501Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Peru and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979Highest 35% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | — |
| High school 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.