What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most expensive homes ($222k median).

Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sullivan	Sumner
People
Population	1,246Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sullivan and Sumner 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%	29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sumner 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Sullivan and Sumner 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	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
	Sullivan and Sumner 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Highest 27% below ME	$2,167Lowest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Sullivan 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%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 7% above ME	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner 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 10
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.