Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Wayne vs Newburgh
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Wayne | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,460 |
1,101Lowest |
1,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh 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% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Appleton 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% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Newburgh 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Cushing and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$950±$219Lowest 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 |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 38 | — |
| 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.