Compare towns
Sumner vs Thomaston vs Garland
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%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Garland has the youngest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Thomaston | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845 |
2,769Highest |
823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
53.5±4.3Lowest 19% above ME |
| Thomaston and Sumner 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% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Garland and Thomaston 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 |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
| Sumner and Thomaston 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 |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
| Thomaston and Garland 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 |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±46.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Thomaston 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% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Garland 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 | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 13 | — |
| 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.