Compare towns
Lee vs Sumner vs Unity vs Lincoln
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).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
845Lowest |
1,858 |
4,890Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
52.4±3.4 17% above ME |
| Sumner and Lincoln 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%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±4.4Lowest 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%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Sumner 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$56,089±$15k 25% below ME |
| Unity 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±$25k 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
| Unity and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$658±$28Lowest 42% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,860 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.3%±34.1 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
16.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Unity 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 | — | — | — | #94 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 10 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Mattanawcook Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.