Compare towns
Athens vs Lee vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($175k median).
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 | Athens | Lee | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
925Highest |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
| Sumner and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457 53% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None 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.