Compare towns
Sumner vs Whiting 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 most affordable homes ($150k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% 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 | Whiting | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845 |
506Lowest |
2,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50±5 12% above ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
| Sumner and Whiting 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% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Whiting 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% |
27.5%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Whiting 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% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Whiting and Buckfield 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 |
$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME |
$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME |
| Buckfield 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 |
$214,200±$52k 28% below ME |
$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME |
| Buckfield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $600±$333Highest 47% below ME |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
| Whiting and Buckfield 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 |
$1,728Lowest 43% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 72% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | Whiting Public Schools | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
| 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.