Compare towns
Sumner vs Jefferson 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%).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
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 | Jefferson | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
2,647Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Peru 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% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson 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 |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Jefferson 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 |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jefferson 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.