Compare towns
Burnham vs Phillips vs Sumner vs Clinton
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).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Clinton has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Phillips | Sumner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953 |
1,094 |
845Lowest |
3,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50.7±4.3 13% above ME |
| Sumner and Clinton 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clinton and Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$71,458±$39kHighest 4% below ME |
| Clinton 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±$43k 40% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$187,000±$28k 37% below ME |
| Phillips and Clinton 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
— | $1,177±$118 3% above ME |
| Burnham and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,910 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±26.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Clinton 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±11.3Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #116 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 10 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.