Compare towns
Washington vs Sidney 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 homeowners (92.5%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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 | Washington | Sidney | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
4,790Highest |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Washington and Peru 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Sidney 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±$36k 34% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Sidney and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286 25% below ME |
$2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 18 | 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.