Compare towns

Newburgh vs Mount Desert vs Sullivan

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureNewburghMount DesertSullivan
People
Population
1,475
1,671Highest
1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+4.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.8±5.7Lowest
about the ME average
54.9±8.2Highest
23% above ME
47.1±15
5% above ME
Mount Desert and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±3.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18%±5.2
ME: 18.1%
Newburgh and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.1%±4.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.5%±2.9
ME: 22.4%
Mount Desert and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.9%
ME: 36.2%
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
26%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.7
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±4.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Sullivan and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,750±$10k
about the ME average
$92,813±$9kHighest
24% above ME
$59,643±$14kLowest
20% below ME
Mount Desert and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$244,600±$20k
18% below ME
$522,100±$66kHighest
76% above ME
$222,000±$33kLowest
25% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$950±$219
17% below ME
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
$883±$114Lowest
22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,748
9% below ME
$3,512Highest
16% above ME
$2,228Lowest
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±13.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
33.9%±31.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
34.9%±23.6
ME: 48.4%
Newburgh and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.7%
ME: 10.7%
7.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
84.8%
ME: 74.3%
85.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1981
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
23% above ME
18 minLowest
27% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19.1%±9.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
12.6%±7.9
ME: 15.9%
Mount Desert and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mount Desert Public Schools RSU 24
High school in town — None in town Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.5
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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.