Compare towns
Cushing vs Penobscot vs Warren
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).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Penobscot | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
1,154Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% below ME |
| Penobscot and Cushing 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% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren 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±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Cushing and Warren 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 |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,125±$456Lowest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Warren 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Penobscot 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 | — | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 13 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.