What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cherryfield has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

Beals has the highest household income ($64k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cherryfield	Beals
People
Population	809Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Cherryfield and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Beals and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4%	30.1%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Cherryfield and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME	$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME
	Beals and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME	$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME
	Beals and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME	$907±$378Highest 20% below ME
	Beals and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,950Lowest 36% below ME	$2,580Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4%	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Cherryfield and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	26.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 22% above ME	21 minLowest 17% below ME
Work from home	18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cherryfield and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Cherryfield Public Schools	Beals Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.