Compare towns
Danforth vs Sumner vs Searsmont
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
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 | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
845 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
| 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%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Searsmont 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%±1.3Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $940±$311Highest 17% below ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,788Highest 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.