Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Durham vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($125k 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 | Cherryfield | Durham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Lowest |
4,262Highest |
1,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Ashland 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% |
19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Ashland 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Ashland 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 |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$46,838±$15k 37% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107 62% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,511Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Ashland 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Cherryfield 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 05 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.