Compare towns
Burnham vs Exeter vs Sumner vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Pittsfield has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Burnham | Exeter | Sumner | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953 |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
3,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40±6.5Lowest 11% below ME |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittsfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$57,381±$12kLowest 23% below ME |
| Exeter and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kHighest 40% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$164,100±$17k 45% below ME |
| Burnham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
— | $825±$260Lowest 28% below ME |
| Burnham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897 38% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,965 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±21.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
76.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Burnham 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 | — | — | — | #125 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 10 | RSU 53/MSAD 53 |
| 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.