Compare towns
Cushing vs Appleton vs Owls Head vs Newcastle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Owls Head has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Newcastle has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Cushing | Appleton | Owls Head | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,360Lowest |
1,482 |
1,913Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.6±6.6Highest 17% above ME |
49.4±7 10% above ME |
| Owls Head and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newcastle and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
31.9%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Owls Head and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.4% ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newcastle and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$87,325±$7k 17% above ME |
$89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
| Newcastle and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,800±$44k 38% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$413,300±$43kHighest 39% above ME |
$398,000±$41k 34% above ME |
| Owls Head and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,191±$386 5% above ME |
$1,363±$81 20% above ME |
| Cushing and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 30% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,981Lowest about the ME average |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.9%±51.6 ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
16 minLowest 34% below ME |
17 min 30% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.3%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 13 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | — |
| High school 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.