Compare towns
Sumner vs Springfield vs Peru vs Buckfield
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Buckfield has the most expensive homes ($228k 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 | Springfield | Peru | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
310Lowest |
1,501 |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest 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% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest 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% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%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% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Buckfield 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±$19k 11% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above 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 |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
| Buckfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 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 | — | RSU 56 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| 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.