What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sumner	Thorndike
People
Population	845Lowest	1,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
Kids under 18	17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike 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%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Thorndike and Sumner 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	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
	Thorndike 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±$73kLowest 49% below ME	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME
	Thorndike and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$836±$317 27% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,167Lowest 29% below ME	$2,537Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Thorndike 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%	6.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 72% above ME	36 minLowest 46% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	None in town	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.