Compare towns
Milo vs Sumner vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 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 | Milo | Sumner | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,165Highest |
845Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.9±7 about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
| Sumner and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$9kLowest 24% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$163,600±$23kHighest 45% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $879±$400Highest 23% below ME |
— | $488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Milo and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 min 70% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 10 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 8.0Lowest |
| 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.