Compare towns
Lee vs Jay 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).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
4,657Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Jay and Sumner 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 |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Lee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $759±$141 33% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 73 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None 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.