Compare towns
Mexico vs Sumner vs Anson vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Calais has the shortest commute (16 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 | Mexico | Sumner | Anson | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,782 |
845Lowest |
2,331 |
3,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
43.8±5.1 about the ME average |
| Sumner and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$64,096±$10kHighest 14% below ME |
| Calais and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$150,000±$73kHighest 49% below ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$111,100±$36k 63% below ME |
| Sumner and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
— | $928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,010±$199 11% below ME |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961 35% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,684 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.7%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
73.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
16 minLowest 35% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #130 of 133 in ME | — | — | #48 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | RSU 10 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Calais Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | Calais Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.