Compare towns
Patten vs Phillips vs Cherryfield vs Crystal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Patten has the most affordable homes ($83k median).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Crystal has the most homeowners (92.8%).
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.
| Measure | Patten | Phillips | Cherryfield | Crystal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 607 |
1,094Highest |
809 |
247Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 56.1±5.8 25% above ME |
49.7±3.7Lowest 11% above ME |
58.1±4.2 30% above ME |
63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
| Crystal and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6 ME: 22.4% |
49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
22.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,750±$19k 39% below ME |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$48,125±$13kHighest 36% below ME |
| Crystal and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $83,000±$51kLowest 72% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
$483±$377 58% below ME |
$428±$107 62% below ME |
$1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
| Crystal and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $857Lowest 72% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$943 69% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56%±58.6 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 28.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
26.3% ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 22 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±24.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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 | 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.