Compare towns
Steuben vs Dedham vs Stetson vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Steuben | Dedham | Stetson | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,388 |
1,656 |
1,151Lowest |
1,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
| Dedham and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Stetson 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Porter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
— |
| Dedham and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029 33% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Porter 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Porter and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | Dedham 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.