Compare towns
Cushing vs Ludlow vs Mapleton vs Union
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).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Ludlow | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
444Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Cushing and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Ludlow 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% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest 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+ | 38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% 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 |
$133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$988±$111 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Cushing and Union 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 |
$1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
90.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 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 13 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.