Compare towns
Burnham vs Phillips vs Sumner vs Solon
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%).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953 |
1,094Highest |
845Lowest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Sumner and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Solon 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% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Burnham 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 |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Solon 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 |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Phillips and Solon 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 |
— | $915±$100 20% below ME |
| Burnham and Solon 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 |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 10 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| 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.