Compare towns
Brooklin vs Gorham vs Cushing vs Beals
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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Cushing has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Beals has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Gorham | Cushing | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
18,300Highest |
1,460 |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
48±15.6 7% 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Cushing 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$409,800±$44k 38% above ME |
$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME |
| Gorham and Cushing 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 |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,553±$376 36% above ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
| Gorham and Cushing 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Cushing 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 13 | Beals Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.