The Town FilesSumner, Maine
Town in Oxford County · population 994 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,000
- Household income
- $57,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 108 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 56.1
Sumner is a town of 994 people in Oxford County, Maine. The median home is worth $150,000, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Maine towns, quieter than 90% of Maine towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Maine towns.
How Sumner ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sumner is worth $150,000, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $57,750, which is more affordable than 80% of Maine towns. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sumner | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,000 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | — | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $57,750 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.0% | — |
Who lives in Sumner
| People | Sumner | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.7% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 42.2 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 90.0% |
Weather in Sumner
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 107.7 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumner since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 21, 2009 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 11, 1980.
Severe weather in Oxford County since 1996
Oxford County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| September 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4737: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oxford County
Oxford County had 17,009 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,809 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Sumner itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Sumner
1 public school with 289 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-Sumner Elementary School | PK-6 | 289 | 11.6 |
Towns near Sumner
- Peru, ME5.5 mi · 1,488 people · home $141,300
- Woodstock, ME5.6 mi · 1,352 people · home $219,600
- West Paris, ME5.6 mi · 1,766 people · home $193,000
- Hartford, ME5.9 mi · 1,203 people · home $189,200
- Buckfield, ME9.2 mi · 1,983 people · home $227,700
- Paris, ME9.4 mi · 5,179 people · home $240,400
- Greenwood, ME10.5 mi · 774 people · home $228,700
- Canton, ME10.7 mi · 1,125 people · home $165,000
Sumner questions
Is Sumner, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sumner scores better for retirees than 21% of Maine towns and quieter than 90%. 29.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.1).
How much does a house cost in Sumner?
The median owner-occupied home in Sumner is valued at $150,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,750, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sumner?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 107.7 inches of snow.
Does Sumner get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 21, 2009. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)