Compare towns
Alfred vs Cushing vs Mapleton vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Alfred | Cushing | Mapleton | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,125 |
1,460Lowest |
1,884 |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
| Cushing and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432 9% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
| Cushing and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 17% above ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Cushing 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | — | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 13 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.