Compare towns

Sullivan vs Sumner vs Strong 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 the most expensive homes ($222k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% 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.

MeasureSullivanSumnerStrongSolon
People
Population
1,246
845Lowest
1,249Highest
963
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
ME: +2.6%
+5.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-7.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-7.1%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
47.1±15
5% above ME
56.1±8.4Highest
25% above ME
47.5±8.9
6% above ME
45.9±5.4Lowest
about the ME average
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%
17.2%±4.6Lowest
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%
23.9%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Sumner 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%
ME: 36.2%
15.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
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±$14k
20% below ME
$57,750±$19k
23% below ME
$47,557±$10kLowest
36% below ME
$69,205±$20kHighest
7% below ME
Solon 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
$150,000±$73kLowest
49% below ME
$183,900±$29k
38% below ME
$183,600±$12k
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
$915±$100
20% below ME
Strong and Solon 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
$1,854Lowest
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.9%±23.6
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
20.9%±52.4
ME: 48.4%
14.6%±48.8Lowest
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%
10.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
ME: 74.3%
91.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
88.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
1977
same as ME
1971Lowest
6 yrs older than ME
1978
1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
7% above ME
42 min
72% above ME
31 min
26% above ME
52 minHighest
113% 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%
9.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district RSU 24 RSU 10 RSU 58/MSAD 58 RSU 74/MSAD 74
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
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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.