What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dixmont has the highest household income ($76k).

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	Sumner	Dixmont
People
Population	845Lowest	1,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME	50.9±4.7Lowest 14% above ME
	Sumner and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%	15.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sumner and Dixmont 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%	19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	24.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME	$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average
	Dixmont 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	$190,700±$22kHighest 36% below ME
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,348±$62 18% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,167Highest 29% below ME	$1,548Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	42.2%±70.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Dixmont 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%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 72% above ME	35 minLowest 40% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	RSU 19
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.