Compare towns
Sumner vs Jay vs Addison vs St. Agatha
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%).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
St. Agatha has the most expensive homes ($188k 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 | Jay | Addison | St. Agatha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
4,657Highest |
1,045 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
55.3±8.6 23% above ME |
| Sumner and St. Agatha 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% |
17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.3%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and St. Agatha 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.6% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$75,417±$34kHighest about the ME average |
| St. Agatha and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$163,500±$28k 45% below ME |
$187,500±$47kHighest 37% below ME |
| St. Agatha and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$900±$807Highest 21% below ME |
$435±$176Lowest 62% below ME |
| Addison and Jay 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,625 46% below ME |
$1,617Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±44.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Addison 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85% ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Addison 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 73 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 33/MSAD 33 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | Wisdom Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.