Compare towns
Columbia vs Union vs Cherryfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Columbia | Union | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 529Lowest |
2,663Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,667±$15k 24% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Union and Columbia 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 |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Union and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $894±$162 22% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 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% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 27% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Cherryfield Public Schools |
| High school 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.