Compare towns
Benton vs Cushing vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Benton | Cushing | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,460Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Cushing and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest 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 | $61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above 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 | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Cushing and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Mapleton 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 | #85 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 13 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.