Compare towns
Brooks vs Embden vs Sumner vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Knox has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Brooks | Embden | Sumner | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
995 |
845 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$64,821±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
| Knox and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kHighest 34% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
| Brooks and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
— | — | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 34% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.