Compare towns
Steuben vs Sumner vs Exeter vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Sumner | Exeter | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,388 |
845Lowest |
1,093 |
1,397Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Exeter 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$32k 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
| Chesterville and Steuben 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 |
— | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Chesterville and Exeter 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,194Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.