What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has the most kids (23.4% under 18).

Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Sumner
People
Population	598Lowest	845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44±10Lowest about the ME average	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Chester and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4% ME: 36.2%	15.4% ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Sumner and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Chester and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,500±$59kHighest 42% below ME	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
	Chester and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$833±$51 27% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,378Lowest 55% below ME	$2,167Highest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±37.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 34% above ME	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 10
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.