Compare towns
Sumner vs Benton 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%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Benton | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
2,770Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below 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% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Benton 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% |
21%±3.9Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Benton 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 |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Benton 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 |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Benton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Benton 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #85 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | 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.