What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parsonsfield has the most people working from home (5.1%).

Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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	Steep Falls
People
Population	1,715Lowest	1,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.3±5.9Highest about the ME average	44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average
	Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	22.9%±9.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Parsonsfield and Steep Falls 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%	9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Parsonsfield and Steep Falls 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%	14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Steep Falls 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±$18kLowest 4% below ME	$80,280±$33kHighest 7% above ME
	Steep Falls and Parsonsfield 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	$243,400±$31kLowest 18% below ME
	Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,185±$312Lowest 4% above ME	$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME
	Steep Falls and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,350Lowest 23% below ME	$3,273Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4%	66.4%±36.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 97% above ME	31 minLowest 25% above ME
Work from home	5.1%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Parsonsfield and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.