What stands out worked out from the figures below

Steuben has the most kids (20.4% under 18).

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Steuben	Searsmont
People
Population	1,388Lowest	1,646Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME	44.5±9.8Highest about the ME average
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Steuben and Searsmont 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%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,466±$4kLowest about the ME average	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME
	Searsmont 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	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME	$940±$311Highest 17% below ME
	Searsmont and Steuben 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	$2,788Highest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont 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%	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 14% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont 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 71
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.