Compare towns
Sumner vs Dexter vs Addison vs Buckfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% rent).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% 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 | Sumner | Dexter | Addison | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
3,822Highest |
1,045 |
2,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
| Sumner and Addison 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% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield 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% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
19.6% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Dexter and Addison 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 |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
$50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
| Buckfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$163,500±$28k 45% below ME |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
| Buckfield and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$900±$807Highest 21% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Addison and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
22.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #113 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | MSAD 46 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.