Compare towns
Lee vs Appleton vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Lee | Appleton | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
1,360Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% 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 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None 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.