Compare towns
Washington vs Mapleton vs Danforth vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Peru has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Washington | Mapleton | Danforth | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,884Highest |
452Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Danforth and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Mapleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kHighest 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Washington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Highest 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
— | $1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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.