Compare towns
Sumner vs West Paris vs Union
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).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | West Paris | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,808 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Sumner and West Paris 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%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and West Paris 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% |
23.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union 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 |
$193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$333Lowest 26% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and West Paris 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 |
$2,083Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and West Paris 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% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris 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 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.