Compare towns
Strong vs Embden 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Embden | Phillips | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
995Lowest |
1,094 |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% 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% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest 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% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden 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% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME |
| Sullivan and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
| Sullivan and Phillips 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 |
— | $483±$377Lowest 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 | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips 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% |
12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 24 |
| High school 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.