Compare towns
Naples vs Sumner vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has the highest household income ($78k).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Bethel has the shortest commute (26 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 | Naples | Sumner | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985Highest |
845Lowest |
2,617 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8Lowest 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
| Sumner and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13kHighest 5% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$58,929±$23k 21% below ME |
| Naples and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48k 15% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
— | $864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784 8% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,835Highest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 56% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bethel and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | — | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 10 | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | None in town | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.