Compare towns
Cushing vs Mapleton vs Phillips vs Friendship
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Friendship has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Phillips | Friendship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,884Highest |
1,094Lowest |
1,213 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
55.5±6.9Highest 24% above ME |
| Friendship and Phillips 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
37.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.8%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$75,625±$22k about the ME average |
| 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 |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$275,000±$56k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,370±$53 20% above 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$2,218 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Friendship 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
17.9%±7.4 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.