What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cushing	Searsmont
People
Population	1,460Lowest	1,646Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average
	Cushing and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Cushing and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Searsmont and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont 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±$19kLowest 12% above ME	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME
	Searsmont 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	$284,000±$31kLowest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME
	Cushing and Searsmont 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	$2,788Lowest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 5% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 13	RSU 71
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.