What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	Sullivan	Beals
People
Population	1,246Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME	48±15.6Highest 7% above ME
	Beals and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sullivan and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Beals 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME	$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME
	Beals and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME	$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME
	Beals and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME	$907±$378Highest 20% below ME
	Beals and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 27% below ME	$2,580Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sullivan and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 7% above ME	21 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Beals and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 24	Beals Public Schools
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	None in town
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.