Compare towns
Danforth vs Sullivan vs Strong vs Island Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Sullivan has the most expensive homes ($222k median).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Danforth | Sullivan | Strong | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,246 |
1,249Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Sullivan and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Sullivan and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Strong and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,228Highest 27% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 24 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | — | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.