Compare towns
Exeter vs Howland vs Sumner
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 highest household income ($84k).
Howland has the most kids (22% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Howland | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,367Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
47.6±10.2Lowest 6% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% 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% |
22%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Howland 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% |
22.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest 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% ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Howland 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 |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Exeter and Howland 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 |
$916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 47% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest 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 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | — | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.