Compare towns
Sumner vs Anson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($67k).
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 | Anson | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
2,331Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Peru 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% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73kHighest 49% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.