Compare towns
Jay vs Lee vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Lee | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
925 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Jay and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Lee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Lee 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.