Compare towns
Sumner vs Saco vs Hartford
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).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Hartford has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Saco | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
20,819Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
42.2±6.5Lowest 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hartford 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% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.9%±0.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$87,115±$40k 17% above ME |
| Saco and Hartford 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$189,200±$44k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,024 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
41 min 68% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Sumner 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None 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.