Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Newcastle vs Union
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%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Cushing | Newcastle | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,460 |
1,913 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.4±7Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Newcastle 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% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newcastle 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% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle 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 |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Newcastle and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Cushing and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,363±$81 20% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Cushing and Newcastle 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 |
$3,944 30% above ME |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 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% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | 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.