Compare towns
Sumner vs Thorndike 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Peru has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Thorndike | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,403 |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% 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% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike 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% |
11.7%±6Lowest 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% |
25.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Thorndike 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 |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Thorndike 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 |
$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Thorndike and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $836±$317Highest 27% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Thorndike and Peru 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 |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
36 min 46% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt View High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.