Compare towns
Minot vs Sumner vs Shapleigh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Shapleigh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Minot | Sumner | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,794 |
845Lowest |
2,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49±6.1 9% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.9±10Lowest 5% above ME |
| Sumner and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Shapleigh and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$88,140±$9k 18% above ME |
| Minot and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,900±$26k about the ME average |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$356,000±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
— | $1,349±$133Highest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,602 14% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,603Highest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Minot 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 | #78 of 133 in ME | — | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 10 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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 |
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.