Compare towns

Strong vs Washburn 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 people working from home (18.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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.

MeasureStrongWashburnSullivan
People
Population
1,249
1,355Highest
1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%
ME: +2.6%
-9.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
47.5±8.9
6% above ME
48.2±7.7Highest
8% above ME
47.1±15Lowest
5% above ME
Washburn and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
21.7%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
18%±5.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Washburn and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±4.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24%±3.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.5%±2.9
ME: 22.4%
Washburn 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%
26%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.6%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Sullivan and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,557±$10kLowest
36% below ME
$56,196±$6k
25% below ME
$59,643±$14kHighest
20% below ME
Sullivan and Washburn 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
$112,900±$14kLowest
62% below ME
$222,000±$33kHighest
25% below ME
Sullivan and Strong 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
$482±$62Lowest
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
$1,571Lowest
48% below ME
$2,228Highest
27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20.9%±52.4Lowest
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±24.7
ME: 48.4%
34.9%±23.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Sullivan and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
12.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
ME: 74.3%
78.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
6 yrs older than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
26% above ME
21 minLowest
15% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
Work from home
18.5%±9.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
9.7%±3.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.6%±7.9
ME: 15.9%
Strong and Sullivan 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 45/MSAD 45 RSU 24
High school in town None in town Washburn District High School Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.0Highest
10.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.