Compare towns
Steuben vs Peru 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Peru | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388 |
1,501Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Peru 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Steuben 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% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Peru 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% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Steuben and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Steuben 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 |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Peru and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,029Highest 33% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%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 minLowest 14% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 56 | 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 |
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.