Compare towns
Sumner vs Harmony vs Buckfield 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%).
Harmony has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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 | Harmony | Buckfield | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
974 |
2,403Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Harmony 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% |
16.4%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Peru 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% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Harmony 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% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Harmony 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 |
$54,063±$13kLowest 28% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Buckfield and Peru 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 |
$202,700±$58k 32% below ME |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Buckfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Harmony 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% |
15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 10 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
— |
| 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.