Compare towns
Cushing vs Starks vs Mapleton 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 people working from home (18.5%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Starks | Mapleton | Nobleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,460 |
556Lowest |
1,884 |
1,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.4±1.8 8% above ME |
| Cushing and Nobleboro 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Nobleboro 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% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
37.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Nobleboro 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$100,417±$14kHighest 34% above ME |
| Nobleboro and Mapleton 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% 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 |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,099±$231 4% below ME |
| Cushing and Nobleboro 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,049 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±32.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Nobleboro and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Mapleton 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 | Nobleboro Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.