Compare towns
Newfield 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
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Shapleigh has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Newfield | Sumner | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,580 |
845Lowest |
2,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.9±10Lowest 5% above ME |
| Sumner and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 26.9%±6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Newfield 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Shapleigh and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,188±$20kLowest 23% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$88,140±$9kHighest 18% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$356,000±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,349±$133 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,402 21% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,603Highest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 49 minHighest 98% above ME |
42 min 72% above ME |
33 minLowest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Shapleigh 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 | — | — | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | 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.