Compare towns
Paris vs Sumner vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paris has the highest household income ($75k).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 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 | Paris | Sumner | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317 |
845Lowest |
7,035Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.3±6 10% above ME |
| Sumner and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME |
| Paris and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$245,800±$38kHighest 17% below ME |
| Rockland and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,092±$105 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649 13% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$4,059Highest 34% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±15.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
62% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
12 minLowest 50% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Rockland and Paris 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | — | #96 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 10 | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oceanside High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.