What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixmont has the highest household income ($76k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dixmont	Sumner
People
Population	1,207Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.9±4.7Lowest 14% above ME	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sumner and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$190,700±$22kHighest 36% below ME	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,348±$62 18% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,548Lowest 49% below ME	$2,167Highest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.2%±70.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 40% above ME	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 19	RSU 10
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.