Compare towns
Brownfield vs Sumner vs Denmark vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Denmark has the highest household income ($64k).
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Brownfield | Sumner | Denmark | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,830Highest |
845Lowest |
1,054 |
1,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
| Sumner and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$64,167±$10kHighest 14% below ME |
$60,417±$9k 19% below ME |
| Denmark and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
| Brownfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
— | $1,409±$207Lowest 24% above ME |
— |
| Brownfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,976Highest about the ME average |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31 ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 80% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
32 minLowest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | 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.