Compare towns
Brooks vs Cushing vs Union vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Brooks | Cushing | Union | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,460 |
2,663Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Cushing and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Cushing and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Cushing and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
23 min 5% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 13 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.