Compare towns
Jonesboro vs Sumner vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jonesboro has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Jonesboro | Sumner | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 570Lowest |
845Highest |
670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.3±13Lowest 15% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sumner and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,750±$14k 15% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
| Freedom and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,400±$75k 49% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$190,600±$69kHighest 36% below ME |
| Freedom and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$145 5% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,253Lowest 59% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±32.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 22% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jonesboro Public Schools | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.