Compare towns
Sullivan vs Exeter vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Exeter | Strong | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
1,093 |
1,249Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
| Exeter and Strong 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Strong 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$33kHighest 25% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% 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 | $883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Exeter and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228Highest 27% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest 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 24 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| 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 | 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.