Compare towns

Exeter vs Sullivan 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).
Sullivan has the most expensive homes ($222k median).
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.

MeasureExeterSullivanSumner
People
Population
1,093
1,246Highest
845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%
ME: +2.6%
+5.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.6±7.7
17% above ME
47.1±15Lowest
5% 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%
18%±5.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±6.9
ME: 18.1%
Sullivan 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%
22.5%±2.9Lowest
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%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26%Highest
ME: 36.2%
15.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Sullivan 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
$59,643±$14k
20% below ME
$57,750±$19kLowest
23% below ME
Exeter and Sullivan 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
$222,000±$33kHighest
25% below ME
$150,000±$73kLowest
49% below ME
Sullivan 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
$883±$114Lowest
22% below ME
—
Exeter and Sullivan 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
$2,228Highest
27% below ME
$2,167
29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±73.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
34.9%±23.6
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Sumner and Sullivan 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%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
85.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1981
4 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
43% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
42 minHighest
72% above ME
Work from home
10.3%±5.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.6%±7.9
ME: 15.9%
18.5%±8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Sumner and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 24 RSU 10
High school in town — Sumner Memorial High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.5
—
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.