Compare towns
Danforth vs Sumner vs Island Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Danforth | Sumner | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
845Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME |
| Sumner and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$150,000±$73kHighest 49% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $636±$124Highest 44% below ME |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Island Falls 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 | 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.