Compare towns
Anson vs Sumner vs Howland vs Randolph
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 affordable homes ($118k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (23 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 | Anson | Sumner | Howland | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
845Lowest |
1,367 |
1,610 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Sumner and Randolph 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Howland 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Randolph 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
16.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$66,574±$16kHighest 11% below ME |
| Randolph 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$174,300±$21kHighest 41% below ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
— | $916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
| Randolph and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572 48% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 10 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 3 photos → | 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.