Compare towns
Sullivan vs Jackson vs Solon 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Jackson | Solon | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
567Lowest |
963 |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
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%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Solon 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% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Strong 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Jackson 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Strong 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% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | 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 | 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.