Compare towns
Acton vs Addison vs Sumner vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the highest household income ($79k).
Addison has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sumner has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Acton | Addison | Sumner | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,045 |
845Lowest |
1,580 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.8±8.1Lowest 18% above ME |
| Sumner and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.6% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$57,188±$20k 23% below ME |
| Acton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$163,500±$28k 45% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$807 21% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,402 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
85%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 10 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.