Compare towns
Washington vs Sumner 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 expensive homes ($195k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Washington | Sumner | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
845Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 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+ | 21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest 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+ | 17.3% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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±$17k 20% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Washington 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Washington and Sumner 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 |
— | $723±$16Lowest 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Washington 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Washington 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 10 | 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.