Compare towns
Addison vs Sumner vs Unity vs Beals
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Beals has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sumner | Unity | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,045 |
845 |
1,858Highest |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48±15.6 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%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME |
| Beals and Unity 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
| Beals and Unity 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 |
— | $873±$73Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,580Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Addison 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 10 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Beals Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.