Compare towns
Lee vs Jackman vs Sumner vs Athens
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 homeowners (97%).
Jackman has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Athens has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Jackman | Sumner | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925Highest |
695Lowest |
845 |
791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
54.2±5.7 21% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
| Sumner and Jackman 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% |
11.5%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.7%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 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+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±3 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Athens 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 |
$33,625±$19kLowest 55% below ME |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Sumner and Athens 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 |
$172,700±$61k 42% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Lee and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $475±$143Lowest 58% below ME |
— | $538±$457Highest 53% below ME |
| Athens and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,492 51% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Jackman 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 | Athens Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.