Compare towns
Appleton vs Beals vs Cushing vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Whiting has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Appleton | Beals | Cushing | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
498Lowest |
1,460Highest |
506 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
50±5Highest 12% above ME |
| Whiting and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Whiting and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$55,263±$2k 26% below 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 | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$214,200±$52kLowest 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
| Cushing and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,728Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Beals Public Schools | RSU 13 | Whiting Public Schools |
| 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.