Compare towns
Prospect vs Stetson vs Sumner vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Stetson has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 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 | Prospect | Stetson | Sumner | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 923 |
1,151Highest |
845Lowest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
| Sumner and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Stetson and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
| Prospect and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
| Stetson and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61 about the ME average |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
— | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979 35% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.