Compare towns
Sumner vs Exeter vs Steuben 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%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Steuben has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Exeter | Steuben | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,093 |
1,388 |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Steuben 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Exeter and Steuben 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 |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Steuben and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Exeter and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
28 minLowest 14% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | RSU 24 | 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 | 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.