Compare towns

Exeter vs Sumner vs Windham

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%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k 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.

MeasureExeterSumnerWindham
People
Population
1,093
845Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.9%
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.6±7.7
17% above ME
56.1±8.4Highest
25% above ME
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% below 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%±6.9
ME: 18.1%
19.2%±2.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Windham 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%
29.7%±5.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
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%
15.4%
ME: 36.2%
44.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Windham 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±$12k
13% above ME
$57,750±$19kLowest
23% below ME
$107,934±$14kHighest
44% above ME
Windham 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
$150,000±$73kLowest
49% below ME
$388,900±$22kHighest
31% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$995±$386Lowest
13% below ME
—
$1,232±$332Highest
8% above ME
Windham and Exeter 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
$2,167
29% below ME
$3,938Highest
30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±73.8
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
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%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.8%
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
91.1%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
43% above ME
42 minHighest
72% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
Work from home
10.3%±5.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.5%±8
ME: 15.9%
19%±4.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
Windham and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #95 of 133 in ME
School district — RSU 10 RSU 14
High school in town — None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.1
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.