Compare towns
Sullivan vs Mapleton vs Berwick 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).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Berwick | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246Lowest |
1,884 |
8,175Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Berwick and Strong 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1989Highest 12 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 |
30 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | — | — | #101 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.