Compare towns
Anson vs Exeter vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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.
| Measure | Anson | Exeter | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 32% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.