Compare towns
Exeter vs Solon 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 shortest commute (35 min average).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Solon | Sumner | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
963 |
845Lowest |
1,254Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.7±8 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradford and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9Lowest 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%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% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Bradford 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% 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 |
$183,600±$12kHighest 38% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$176,200±$15k 41% below ME |
| Solon and Bradford 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 |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
— | $742±$392Lowest 35% below ME |
| Exeter and Solon 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,315Highest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest 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% |
10.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
86.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 43% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
39 min 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5Lowest 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 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.