Compare towns
Sumner vs Beals 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%).
Beals has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Beals | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845 |
498Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Beals 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% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest 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%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Sumner 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% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals 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 |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Beals 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 |
$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Beals and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $907±$378Highest 20% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Beals and Peru 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 |
$2,580Highest 15% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest 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% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% 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 |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | Beals 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.