Compare towns
Appleton vs Brooks vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Appleton | Brooks | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,208Lowest |
1,460Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Appleton and Cushing 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% |
17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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 |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
| Cushing and Brooks 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 |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Brooks 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 |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | 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.