Compare towns
Acton vs Newfield vs Sumner
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).
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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 | Newfield | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,580 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
52.8±8.1Lowest 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Acton 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% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest 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% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 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 |
$318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$2,402 21% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minLowest 64% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest 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 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 10 |
| 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.