Compare towns
Jay vs Cushing vs Wilton vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Wilton has the most renters (20.2% rent).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Jay | Cushing | Wilton | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,460 |
3,862 |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Cushing and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.5% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Cushing and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$202,000±$30k 32% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,088±$73 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,344 23% below ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wilton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Wilton 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #121 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 13 | RSU 09 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.