Compare towns
Sullivan vs Cherryfield vs Union vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Sullivan | Cherryfield | Union | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
809Lowest |
2,663Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Cherryfield and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Union and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
| Union and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114 22% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Union and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228 27% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.