What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the most expensive homes ($257k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Beals	Sumner
People
Population	498Lowest	845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%	29.7%±5.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Beals and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Beals and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
	Beals and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$378 20% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Highest 15% below ME	$2,167Lowest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 17% below ME	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Beals Public Schools	RSU 10
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.