Compare towns
Howland vs Sumner vs Lagrange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howland has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k 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 | Howland | Sumner | Lagrange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,367Highest |
845 |
709Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
45.9±13.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Sumner and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Howland and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$58,417±$14kHighest 22% below ME |
| Lagrange and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,100±$52kHighest 49% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
| Howland and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$246Highest 20% below ME |
— | $831±$151Lowest 27% below ME |
| Howland and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,546 49% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±18.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 26% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
36 min 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.