Compare towns
Avon vs Cushing vs Mapleton vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strong has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Avon | Cushing | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 359Lowest |
1,460 |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.1 5% above ME |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Cushing and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Mapleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Cushing and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,469Lowest 52% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 71% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±8.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 13 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.