Compare towns
Brooklin vs Gray vs Beals 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).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Beals has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k 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 | Gray | Beals | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 869 |
8,429Highest |
498Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
48±15.6 7% above 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% |
19%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 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% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$95,236±$8kHighest 27% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
| Gray and Cushing 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 |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Cushing and Gray 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 |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Gray 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 |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Beals 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Brooklin Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Beals Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.