Compare towns
Sullivan vs Sumner vs Strong vs Hancock
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
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 | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
845Lowest |
1,249 |
2,518Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
| Hancock and Sumner 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%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest 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%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%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% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Hancock 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$72,285±$5kHighest 3% below ME |
| Hancock 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±$33k 25% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
| Hancock and Sullivan 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±$276 19% below ME |
$1,171±$65Highest about the ME average |
| Hancock 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,869Lowest 38% 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% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Hancock 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% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #117 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 10 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Hancock Public Schools |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | 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.