Compare towns
Sumner vs Mapleton vs Hope vs Buckfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | Hope | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,884 |
1,748 |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
| Sumner and Hope 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Hope 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 29% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,860 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.2 |
| 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.