Compare towns
Bradley vs Sumner vs Parsonsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradley has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Bradley | Sumner | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
845Lowest |
1,715Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±9.7Lowest 5% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
44.3±5.9 about the ME average |
| Sumner and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Bradley and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,667±$28kHighest about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$72,045±$18k 4% below ME |
| Bradley and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,800±$37k 32% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$325Lowest 4% below ME |
— | $1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME |
| Parsonsfield and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,350Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±22.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 34 | 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.