Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Harmony vs Mapleton vs Starks
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 most people working from home (18.2%).
Harmony has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Harmony | Mapleton | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
974 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Harmony 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% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Harmony 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% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Harmony 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% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Harmony 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 |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Harmony 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 |
— | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,449 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Starks 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% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.