Compare towns
Danforth vs Sumner vs Newburgh 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 ($90k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Newburgh has the most expensive homes ($245k median).
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 | Newburgh | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
845 |
1,475Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
50.7±10.6 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 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Newburgh 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh and Island Falls 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Newburgh and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$244,600±$20kHighest 18% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $950±$219Highest 17% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Newburgh and Island Falls 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,748Highest 9% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Newburgh 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 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 | 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.