Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Winthrop 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).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Winthrop | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Lowest |
6,191Highest |
1,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop 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% |
23.4%±5Lowest 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% |
40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Winthrop 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 |
$86,470±$4kHighest 16% above ME |
$46,838±$15k 37% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$294,800±$41kHighest about the ME average |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$892±$319Highest 22% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$1,511Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Winthrop 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% |
12.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | — | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | Winthrop Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.