Compare towns
Sullivan vs Mars Hill 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%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Mars Hill | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246 |
1,398Highest |
963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Highest 5% above ME |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Sullivan and Solon 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% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Solon and Mars Hill 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Sullivan and Solon 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 |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
| Solon and Sullivan 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 |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Sullivan and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
8.0Lowest |
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| 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.