If you are interested in speed you might get more from Cython (not to mistake it with CPython) or mypyc. The catch is that you need to specify types (in Cython you otherwise won't get speed gain, and mypyc will refuse to compile).

I remember reading an article somebody was describing that instead of even adopting project to work with Cython he/she outright started their project in Cython and found it beneficial.