Compare towns
Steuben vs Islesboro vs Chesterville
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).
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Islesboro | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388 |
636Lowest |
1,397Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Islesboro and Steuben 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% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville 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% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Chesterville 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 |
$88,438±$44kHighest 18% above ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% 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 |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Islesboro and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$938±$252 18% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Chesterville and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029Lowest 33% below ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Islesboro and Steuben 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Islesboro and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | — | — |
| High school 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.