What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k median).

Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Searsmont	Sumner
People
Population	1,646Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sumner and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Searsmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311 17% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Highest 8% below ME	$2,167Lowest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	RSU 10
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.