Compare towns
Exeter vs Dixfield vs Sumner vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Bradford has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Dixfield | Sumner | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
2,300Highest |
845Lowest |
1,254 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.7±8Lowest 11% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradford and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
19% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$82,955±$26k 11% above ME |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$176,200±$15kHighest 41% below ME |
| Bradford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
— | $742±$392 35% below ME |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,315 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
86.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
39 min 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | — | Dirigo High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.