Compare towns
Sullivan vs Mapleton vs Starks 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Mapleton | Starks | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above 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%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest 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% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 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±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Starks 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Sullivan and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below 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% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 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 |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest 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 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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.