Compare towns
Sumner vs Mapleton vs Peru vs Hartford
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%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Hartford has the most homeowners (97.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Peru | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,501 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
42.2±6.5 6% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hartford and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
17.9%±0.7Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$87,115±$40k 17% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hartford 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$189,200±$44k 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
— |
| Peru and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$3,024Highest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
41 min 68% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
5.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.