Compare towns
Sullivan vs Winthrop 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Winthrop | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246Lowest |
6,191Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and Sullivan 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% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Strong 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% |
23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Winthrop 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Winthrop 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 |
$86,470±$4kHighest 16% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$294,800±$41kHighest about the ME average |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Winthrop 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 |
$892±$319 22% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228 27% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop 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% |
12.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%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 |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | Winthrop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.