Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Steuben vs Waldo
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).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Steuben | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Lowest |
1,388Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Waldo 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% |
15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Steuben and Waldo 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 |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$208,000±$41kHighest 30% below ME |
| Waldo 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 |
$678±$319 40% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$2,029Highest 33% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Cherryfield 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% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Waldo 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 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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 |
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.