Compare towns
Lee vs Sumner vs Athens vs Springfield
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 expensive homes ($175k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Athens has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
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 | Sumner | Athens | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925Highest |
845 |
791 |
310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
| Sumner and Springfield 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest 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±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME |
| Springfield 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $538±$457 53% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,355 55% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 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 | 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.