Compare towns
Burnham vs Cherryfield vs Steuben vs Phillips
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Burnham | Cherryfield | Steuben | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953 |
809Lowest |
1,388Highest |
1,094 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
| Steuben and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$678±$319 40% below ME |
$483±$377 58% below ME |
| Burnham and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Cherryfield 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 24 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.