Compare towns
Exeter vs Palmyra 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).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% 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 | Palmyra | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
2,209Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below 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% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra 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% |
16.7%±5.3Lowest 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% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra and Exeter 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 |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Exeter and Palmyra 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 |
$154,900±$34k 48% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Exeter and Palmyra 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 |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Palmyra 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 |
$1,614 47% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Palmyra 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% |
9.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest 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 10 |
| High school 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.