Compare towns
Sumner vs Unity 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 the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Garland has the most kids (18% 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 | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845 |
1,858Highest |
823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
53.5±4.3 19% above ME |
| Sumner and Garland 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% |
18%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Garland 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% |
23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Garland 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
| Unity and Garland 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 |
$794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±46.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Garland 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% ME: 10.7% |
19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.