Compare towns
Solon vs Cushing vs Sullivan vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Solon | Cushing | Sullivan | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963Lowest |
1,460 |
1,246 |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Cushing and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 13 | RSU 24 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.