Compare towns
Sumner vs Hope vs Danforth 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 oldest population (median age 56.1).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Peru has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Hope | Danforth | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
1,748Highest |
452Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
— | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | Hope 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 | 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.