What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).

Dexter has the most affordable homes ($171k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cushing	Dexter
People
Population	1,460Lowest	3,822Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME	51±6.8Highest 14% above ME
	Dexter and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Cushing and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Highest ME: 22.4%	19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Cushing and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Cushing and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME	$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME
	Cushing and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME	$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME	$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 30% above ME	$2,186Lowest 28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dexter 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%	23.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 5% below ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%	12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Dexter 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	—	#113 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 13	MSAD 46
High school in town	None in town	Dexter Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.