Compare towns
Stetson vs Sumner vs Unity vs Kenduskeag
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kenduskeag has the highest household income ($80k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Stetson | Sumner | Unity | Kenduskeag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,151 |
845Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,333 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.9±5.8 about the ME average |
| Sumner and Kenduskeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Kenduskeag are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.6%±1.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$79,792±$14kHighest 7% above ME |
| Kenduskeag and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$177,900±$37k 40% below ME |
| Unity and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
— | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,033±$287Highest 9% below ME |
| Kenduskeag and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,059 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±35.1Lowest 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 | 10.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.