Compare towns
Addison vs Appleton vs Beals vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
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 | Addison | Appleton | Beals | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,045 |
1,360 |
498Lowest |
1,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±3.9Highest 21% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Addison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Cushing and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
| Cushing and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,500±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$807Lowest 21% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | Appleton Public Schools | Beals Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.