Compare towns
Standish vs Mason vs Steep Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).
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.
| Measure | Standish | Mason | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,662Highest |
1,451Lowest |
1,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.1±6.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Steep Falls and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±9.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mason and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$80,280±$33kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$243,400±$31kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,516±$1k 7% above U.S. |
| Mason and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$3,273 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±36.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #18 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Mason School District | — |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.