Compare towns
Cushing vs Friendship vs Mapleton
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 expensive homes ($410k median).
Friendship has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Cushing | Friendship | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,213Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
55.5±6.9Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Friendship and Cushing 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%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% ME: 36.2% |
39.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Cushing 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 |
$75,625±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Cushing 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 |
$275,000±$56k 7% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,370±$53 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Cushing and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,218 27% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Friendship 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% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.9%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Friendship are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 13 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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 |
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.