Compare towns
Sumner vs Island Falls vs Danforth
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%).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
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 | Island Falls | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Highest |
768 |
666Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Island Falls 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±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% 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±$25k 63% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% 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±$124Highest 44% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Danforth 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | 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.