Compare towns
Sumner vs Cherryfield 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%).
Cherryfield has the most expensive homes ($196k 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 | Cherryfield | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845 |
809Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Sumner 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% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield 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% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Cherryfield 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 |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% 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±$73k 49% below ME |
$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Cherryfield 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | Cherryfield 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.