Compare towns
Cushing vs Mapleton vs Bridgewater
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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($155k 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 | Mapleton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,884Highest |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,417±$15kLowest 12% below 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Mapleton 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 | — |
| 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.