Compare towns
Sumner vs Appleton vs Peru vs Addison
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 most people working from home (18.5%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Addison has the shortest commute (27 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 | Appleton | Peru | Addison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,360 |
1,501Highest |
1,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
| Sumner and Addison 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% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7 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% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton 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% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
19.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton 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±$19k 23% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$50,524±$8kLowest 32% 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±$73k 49% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$163,500±$28k 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$900±$807 21% below ME |
| Appleton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 56 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.