Compare towns
Cushing vs Mapleton vs Thomaston 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).
Thomaston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Owls Head has the most expensive homes ($413k 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 | Thomaston | Owls Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
1,884 |
2,769Highest |
1,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%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 |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
52.6±6.6 17% above ME |
| Thomaston and Owls Head 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% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
31.9%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Owls Head 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% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Lowest 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% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$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 |
$271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$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 |
$1,262±$343 11% above ME |
$1,191±$386 5% above ME |
| Cushing and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 30% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above 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% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.9%±51.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston 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% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
16 min 34% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 13 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 13 | 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.