Compare towns
Sullivan vs Sumner 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 most expensive homes ($222k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246 |
845Lowest |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Sumner and Strong 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Strong 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±$19k 23% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% 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 |
$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±$114Lowest 22% 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 10 | 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.