Compare towns
Brooklin vs Beals vs Cushing vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cushing has the highest household income ($84k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Brooklin | Beals | Cushing | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
498Lowest |
1,460Highest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$64,063±$14k 14% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$137 9% above ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | Beals Public Schools | RSU 13 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.