Compare towns
Sullivan vs Peru 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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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 | Peru | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246Lowest |
1,501Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Peru and Strong 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Peru 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 |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Peru and Sullivan 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 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±$114 22% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sullivan and Peru 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% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±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 56 | 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 |
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.