Compare towns
Abbot vs Sumner vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abbot has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Chester has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Abbot | Sumner | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 584Lowest |
845Highest |
598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.5 8% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
44±10Lowest about the ME average |
| Sumner and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chester and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Abbot and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,542±$24k 22% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME |
| Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,200±$36k 42% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME |
| Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$73Highest about the ME average |
— | $833±$51Lowest 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,393 54% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,378Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.7%±41.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 11% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±17.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Abbot and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | — |
| High school 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.