Compare towns
Steuben vs Islesboro 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 most kids (20.4% under 18).
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
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 | Islesboro | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388Highest |
636Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
57±8.4 27% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Islesboro 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% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Cherryfield 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% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Cherryfield 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% |
47.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$88,438±$44kHighest 18% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Islesboro and Steuben 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 |
$288,800±$140kHighest about the ME average |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Islesboro 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 |
$938±$252Highest 18% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Islesboro and Steuben 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 |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Islesboro 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% |
15.1% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Islesboro and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | — | Cherryfield Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.