Compare towns
Leeds vs Sumner vs Buckfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leeds has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Buckfield has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Leeds | Sumner | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,285 |
845Lowest |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.2±8.3 15% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±9.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Leeds and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,208±$14kHighest 14% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
| Leeds and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,800±$27kHighest 13% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
| Leeds and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$461Highest 17% below ME |
— | $521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Leeds and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,565 16% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.1%±11.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 37% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 52/MSAD 52 | RSU 10 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
| 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.