Compare towns
Sumner vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845 |
310Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Springfield 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% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Springfield 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% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest 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% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Sumner 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 |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73kHighest 49% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Peru 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest 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 21% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.