What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Searsmont	Sullivan
People
Population	1,646Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	47.1±15Highest 5% above ME
	Sullivan and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sullivan and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME
	Searsmont and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME
	Searsmont and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Highest 17% below ME	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME
	Searsmont and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Highest 8% below ME	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%	34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	26 minHighest 7% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	RSU 24
High school in town	None in town	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.