Compare towns
Appleton vs Thomaston 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%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Cushing has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Thomaston | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,769Highest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston 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% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Cushing 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 |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
| Cushing and Thomaston 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 |
$271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,262±$343 11% above ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 18% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | 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.