What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Sumner
People
Population	819Lowest	845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.1±5.9Lowest 10% above ME	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Alton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Alton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Alton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
	Alton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$48 24% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,476Lowest 51% below ME	$2,167Highest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±88.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±7.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 34	RSU 10
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.