Compare towns
Mercer vs Steuben vs Perry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Mercer | Steuben | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,388Highest |
744 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
45.5±11.4Highest about the ME average |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
| Perry and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Perry and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 24 | Perry 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.