Compare towns
Sumner vs Monticello vs Danforth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Monticello has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Buckfield has the most expensive homes ($228k 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 | Monticello | Danforth | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845 |
674 |
666Lowest |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.7±6 18% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
13.8%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield 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% |
28.2%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Monticello 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% |
9.4% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Monticello and Buckfield 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 |
$51,875±$13k 31% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
| Buckfield 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 |
$125,800±$36k 58% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
| Buckfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $833±$434Highest 27% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Monticello and Danforth 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 |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,270 58% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Monticello 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% |
19.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | — | — | RSU 10 |
| High school 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.