Compare towns
Sumner vs Danforth vs Hope vs St. Agatha
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
St. Agatha has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Sumner | Danforth | Hope | St. Agatha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
666Lowest |
1,748Highest |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
55.3±8.6 23% above ME |
| Sumner and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hope and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$75,417±$34k about the ME average |
| Hope and St. Agatha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$187,500±$47k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$435±$176Lowest 62% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,617 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±44.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 33/MSAD 33 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Wisdom Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.