Compare towns
Unity vs Stetson vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Unity | Stetson | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,151 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$76,023±$28kHighest about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Stetson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Unity and Stetson 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 |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
— |
| Unity and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,962Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | None in town |
| 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.