Compare towns
Sumner vs Wade vs Addison 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%).
Wade has the most renters (21.7% rent).
Addison has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Wade | Addison | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
244Lowest |
1,045 |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
53.6±18.5 20% above ME |
54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Sumner 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% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$50,524±$8k 32% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Sumner 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 |
$157,100±$109k 47% below ME |
$163,500±$28kHighest 45% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Addison and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $900±$807Highest 21% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Addison and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Addison 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | 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.