Compare towns
Sweden vs Sebec vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sweden has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
Sebec has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sweden | Sebec | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 537 |
547Highest |
424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±19.2Highest 14% above ME |
49.3±7.6Lowest 10% above ME |
50.9±9.9 14% above ME |
| Sweden and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Amherst and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32% ME: 36.2% |
31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Sebec and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,750±$25k about the ME average |
$74,545±$37kHighest about the ME average |
$72,656±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Sebec and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,300±$61kHighest 5% above ME |
$233,000±$40k 21% below ME |
$210,200±$38kLowest 29% below ME |
| Sweden and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,667±$815 46% above ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,598Highest 14% below ME |
$1,810 40% below ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 8.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Sweden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.2%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sebec and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.