Compare towns
Steuben vs Benton vs Cherryfield vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% 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.
| Measure | Steuben | Benton | Cherryfield | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,388 |
2,770Highest |
809Lowest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Steuben and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319 40% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
| Benton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029Highest 33% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Steuben 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 | — | #85 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Cherryfield Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None 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.