Compare towns
Steuben vs Unity 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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,388 |
1,858Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Unity 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Unity and Steuben 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Cherryfield Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.