Compare towns
Hiram vs Sumner vs Brownfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hiram has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Hiram | Sumner | Brownfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
845Lowest |
1,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±10.2 7% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
| Sumner and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hiram and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,813±$10kHighest 16% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
| Hiram and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
| Brownfield and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME |
— | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
| Brownfield and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,106Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,976Highest about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 28% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 55/MSAD 55 | RSU 10 | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.