Compare towns
Strong vs Cherryfield vs Phillips vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
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 | Strong | Cherryfield | Phillips | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
809Lowest |
1,094 |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME |
| Sullivan and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
| Sullivan and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$483±$377 58% below ME |
$883±$114 22% 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 | $1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Phillips 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.