Compare towns
Addison vs Paris vs Sumner vs Beals
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paris has the most renters (39.8% rent).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Addison | Paris | Sumner | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,045 |
5,317Highest |
845 |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% 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 | 15.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6% ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
| Paris and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,500±$28k 45% below ME |
$240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
| Beals and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$807Lowest 21% below ME |
— | — | $907±$378Highest 20% below ME |
| Beals and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
22 min 9% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Paris and Sumner 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 | — | #114 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 10 | Beals Public Schools |
| 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.