Compare towns
Brooklin vs Freedom vs Unity vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooklin has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Cushing has the highest household income ($84k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Freedom | Unity | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
670Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Brooklin and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Brooklin and Freedom 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% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above 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 |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above 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 |
— | $873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above 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 |
$2,328 23% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.