Compare towns
Cushing vs Mapleton vs Surry vs Owls Head
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 people working from home (18.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Owls Head 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 | Surry | Owls Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,836 |
1,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
52.6±6.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Owls Head and Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.6%±4.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
31.9%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Owls Head and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
39.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4 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 |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$87,325±$7k 17% above ME |
| Mapleton and Owls Head 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$413,300±$43kHighest 39% above ME |
| Owls Head and Cushing 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±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$1,191±$386 5% above ME |
| Cushing and Owls Head 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 |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$2,981 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.9%±51.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
16 minLowest 34% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
13.3%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Owls Head 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 | Surry Public Schools | RSU 13 |
| 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.