Compare towns
Ludlow vs Cushing vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Starks has the oldest housing (typical home built 1988).
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 | Ludlow | Cushing | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 444Lowest |
1,460Highest |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8Lowest about the ME average |
48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Cushing and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Ludlow and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Cushing and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cushing and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Cushing and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Cushing and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 13 | — |
| High school 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.