Compare towns
Sullivan vs Durham vs Strong
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Strong 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 | Durham | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246Lowest |
4,262Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Sullivan and Strong 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Durham 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 |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
— | $920±$276Highest 19% 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 | $2,228 27% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Durham 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 05 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | 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 |
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.