Compare towns
Appleton vs Monticello vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Monticello has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Appleton | Monticello | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
674Lowest |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.7±6 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.2%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$51,875±$13kLowest 31% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$125,800±$36kLowest 58% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Appleton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$833±$434Lowest 27% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.