What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Steuben has the most kids (20.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Searsmont	Steuben
People
Population	1,646Highest	1,388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Highest about the ME average	40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Steuben and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%	15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME	$76,466±$4kLowest about the ME average
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME	$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Highest 17% below ME	$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Highest 8% below ME	$2,029Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%	26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	28 minHighest 14% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%	11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	RSU 24
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.