What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Columbia	Cherryfield
People
Population	529Lowest	809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.1% ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±6.4Lowest 6% below ME	58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME
Kids under 18	24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	25.9%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cherryfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$15kHighest 24% below ME	$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME
	Columbia and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME	$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME
	Cherryfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$894±$162Highest 22% below ME	$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,226Lowest 60% below ME	$1,950Highest 36% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	60.5%±17.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Columbia and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	26.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	30 minLowest 22% above ME
Work from home	9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cherryfield and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Cherryfield Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.