Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Phillips vs Searsmont
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).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Searsmont has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Phillips | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,460 |
1,094Lowest |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Phillips and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Cushing 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Phillips 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% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$940±$311 17% 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 |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,582Lowest 15% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 71 |
| 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.