Compare towns
Embden vs Athens vs Sumner vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the most expensive homes ($173k median).
Athens has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Embden | Athens | Sumner | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 995 |
791Lowest |
845 |
2,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
| Sumner and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Embden and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
— | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804 41% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Athens Public Schools | RSU 10 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.