Compare towns
Searsmont vs Sumner vs Appleton vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Searsmont | Sumner | Appleton | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,646Highest |
845Lowest |
1,360 |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
| Sumner and Appleton 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%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Sumner 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% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Searsmont and Monroe 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 |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
— | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 8% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 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 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.