Compare towns
Sumner vs Acton vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Peru has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Sumner | Acton | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Acton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
40 min 64% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Acton 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 56 |
| 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.