Compare towns
Danforth vs Hope vs Sumner vs Mattawamkeag
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 ($90k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Mattawamkeag has the most renters (23.9% rent).
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 | Hope | Sumner | Mattawamkeag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,748Highest |
845 |
698 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-13.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51.4±3.8 15% 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 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±9.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mattawamkeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Hope and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$45,000±$16kLowest 40% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$104,200±$41k 65% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
— | $488±$190Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270 58% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,111Lowest 63% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.7%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Mattawamkeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
33.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
76.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
42 min 69% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
2.2%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Hope 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.