Compare towns
Baldwin vs Buckfield vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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 | Baldwin | Buckfield | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170 |
2,403Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Buckfield and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Baldwin and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $521±$33 54% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540 16% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | — | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| 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.