Compare towns
Steuben vs Exeter vs Levant vs Cherryfield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Levant has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Exeter | Levant | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,388 |
1,093 |
3,069Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$86,071±$22kHighest 15% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Levant and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$268,500±$27kHighest 9% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Levant 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Levant and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,580Highest 15% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Levant 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest 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 | — | — | #124 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 24 | — | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | 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.