What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).

Island Falls 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sumner	Island Falls
People
Population	845Highest	768Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME	50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME
	Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Island Falls 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%	26.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls 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±$19kHighest 23% below ME	$56,328±$8kLowest 25% below ME
	Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$150,000±$73kHighest 49% below ME	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME
	Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$636±$124 44% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,167Highest 29% below ME	$1,720Lowest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Island Falls 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%	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 72% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	—
High school 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.