Compare towns
Jay vs Pittsfield vs Steuben
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pittsfield has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Pittsfield | Steuben |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
3,930 |
1,388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
40±6.5 11% below ME |
40.1±8.5Highest 10% below ME |
| Steuben and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Pittsfield and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$57,381±$12kLowest 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 | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$164,100±$17kLowest 45% below ME |
$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME |
| Steuben and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$825±$260Highest 28% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
| Pittsfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,965Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±21.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Pittsfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
76.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
24 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Steuben and Pittsfield 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 | #125 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 53/MSAD 53 | 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 |
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.