Compare towns
Jay vs Sumner vs Chesterville
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Jay | Sumner | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
845Lowest |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Chesterville 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Jay and Chesterville 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
| Chesterville and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
— | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jay 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Chesterville 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 10 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | 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.