What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chesterville	Parsonsfield
People
Population	1,397Lowest	1,715Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME	44.3±5.9Highest about the ME average
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville 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%	25%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Chesterville and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	18%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Chesterville and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME	$72,045±$18kHighest 4% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$214,000±$40kLowest 28% below ME	$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$73Lowest 4% below ME	$1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,194Lowest 28% below ME	$2,350Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12% ME: 10.7%	12% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4% ME: 74.3%	86.4% ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	48 minHighest 97% above ME
Work from home	7.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Chesterville and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.