Compare towns
Exeter vs Poland vs Sumner vs Dixmont
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%).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Exeter | Poland | Sumner | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
5,954Highest |
845Lowest |
1,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50.9±4.7 14% 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% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Poland 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% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7 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% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Poland and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$85,557±$23kHighest 14% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Poland and Exeter 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 |
$283,600±$44kHighest 4% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,198±$128 5% above ME |
— | $1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Dixmont and Poland 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 |
$2,774Highest 9% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Poland 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 16 | RSU 10 | RSU 19 |
| High school in town | — | Poland Regional H S | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.