Compare towns
Sumner vs West Paris 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%).
West Paris has the most expensive homes ($193k 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 | West Paris | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,808Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46±7.9Lowest about the ME average |
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%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3Lowest 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%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and West Paris 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% |
23.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and West Paris 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 |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% 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 |
$193,000±$20kHighest 35% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| West Paris and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$333Highest 26% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| West Paris 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 |
$2,083 31% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and West Paris 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% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris 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 17/MSAD 17 | 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 |
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.