Compare towns
Danforth vs Island Falls vs Sumner
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).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Danforth | Island Falls | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
768 |
845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% 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% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 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+ | 26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest 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+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% 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 | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
$150,000±$73kHighest 49% 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±$29Lowest 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 | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest 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.