Compare towns
Washington vs Unity 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%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,858Highest |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Washington 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Unity and Washington 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Washington and Unity 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.