Compare towns
Lee vs Danforth 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).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
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 | Lee | Danforth | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925Highest |
666Lowest |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest 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%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5k 33% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
| Sumner and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Lee and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$29 45% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest 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 | 19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | — | 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.