Compare towns
Cushing vs Harpswell vs Rome
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Harpswell | Rome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
5,046Highest |
1,215Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
62±1.5Highest 38% above ME |
48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome 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% |
38.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Rome 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 |
$96,250±$15kHighest 29% above ME |
$77,639±$25kLowest 4% above ME |
| Harpswell 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±$44k 38% above ME |
$609,700±$60kHighest 106% above ME |
$329,300±$36kLowest 11% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,348±$53 18% above ME |
$1,150±$56Lowest about the ME average |
| Cushing and Harpswell 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 |
$3,141 3% above ME |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rome 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% |
5.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 5% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.7%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harpswell and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 13 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school 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.