Compare towns
Chesterville vs Jay vs Sumner vs Steuben
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Steuben has the highest household income ($76k).
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 | Chesterville | Jay | Sumner | Steuben |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,397 |
4,657Highest |
845Lowest |
1,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
| Sumner and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
| Steuben and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
| Chesterville and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
— | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,194 28% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,029Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Steuben 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | RSU 10 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.