Compare towns
Cushing vs Mapleton vs Phillips vs South Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Phillips has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
South Thomaston has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | South Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,884Highest |
1,094Lowest |
1,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3% 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 |
54.3±11.3Highest 21% above ME |
| South Thomaston 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% |
13.8%±3.7Lowest 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% |
34.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
9%±9.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| South Thomaston and Mapleton 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 |
$86,838±$7k 16% above ME |
| Mapleton and South Thomaston 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 |
$341,300±$37k 15% above ME |
| Cushing and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$925±$633 19% below ME |
| Cushing and South Thomaston 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 |
$3,442 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
63.6%±43.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Thomaston and Phillips 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
16 minLowest 36% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Phillips 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 | — |
| 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.