What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k median).

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

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	Parsonsfield	Chesterville
People
Population	1,715Highest	1,397Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.3±5.9Highest about the ME average	37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	31.3%±6.6Highest 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+	18%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%	15%±3Lowest 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+	21.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.3%±2Highest 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	$72,045±$18kHighest 4% below ME	$61,635±$10kLowest 18% 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	$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME	$214,000±$40kLowest 28% 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	$1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME	$1,088±$73Lowest 4% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Highest 23% below ME	$2,194Lowest 28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%	21.8%±30.8Lowest 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	1977Lowest same as ME	1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 97% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±3.7Highest 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.