Compare towns
Steuben vs Mercer 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 affordable homes ($174k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Mercer | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388Highest |
718Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Mercer 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% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Mercer 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% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Steuben and Mercer 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 |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Mercer 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 |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029Highest 33% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer 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.