Compare towns
Buckfield vs Jay vs Sumner vs Sebago
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Buckfield | Jay | Sumner | Sebago |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,403 |
4,657Highest |
845Lowest |
2,073 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40.7±3.9 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$78,438±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
| Sebago and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$298,000±$46kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
— | $1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,543 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
37 min 52% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 73 | RSU 10 | Sebago Public Schools |
| High school in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.