Compare towns
Burnham vs Sumner vs Phillips
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Sumner | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
845Lowest |
1,094Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
| 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest 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±$18kHighest 21% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Burnham and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
| Phillips and Burnham 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 |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±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 10 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.