Compare towns
Cushing vs Smithfield vs Nobleboro
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).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Nobleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Smithfield | Nobleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460 |
856Lowest |
1,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
48.4±1.8Lowest 8% above ME |
| Smithfield 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Nobleboro and Cushing 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Nobleboro 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% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Nobleboro 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$100,417±$14k 34% above ME |
| Smithfield and Nobleboro 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 |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$352,600±$45k 19% above ME |
| Cushing and Nobleboro 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,099±$231Lowest 4% below ME |
| Cushing and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,049 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±32.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Nobleboro and Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 13 | — | Nobleboro Public Schools |
| High school 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.