Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Exeter vs Sumner vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Cherryfield | Exeter | Sumner | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,093Highest |
845 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
41.9±6.4Lowest 6% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$158,700±$19k 46% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $894±$162 22% below ME |
| Exeter and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 22% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | — | RSU 10 | — |
| 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.