Compare towns
Acton vs Cushing vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Acton | Cushing | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,460Lowest |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
| Thomaston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
| Cushing and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$271,700±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
| Cushing and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,262±$343Lowest 11% above ME |
| Cushing and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | — | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 13 | RSU 13 |
| 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.