Compare towns
Sumner vs Unity 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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,858 |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
37.7±10.1 16% below ME |
| Sumner and Buckfield 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
| Buckfield and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
| Buckfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Unity 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 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| 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.