Compare towns
Sumner vs Danforth vs Weston 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 the most people working from home (18.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Weston has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Danforth | Weston | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
452 |
275Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
55.1±14 23% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Weston 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% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±7.2 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%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Danforth 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 |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Weston 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 |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$171,700±$26kHighest 42% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Weston and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
— | $1,500Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | — | RSU 56 |
| High school 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.