Compare towns
Sumner vs Exeter vs Washburn
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%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Exeter | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,093 |
1,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn 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% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Washburn 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Washburn and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$73k 49% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.