Compare towns
Mapleton vs Cushing vs Penobscot vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Mapleton | Cushing | Penobscot | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,460 |
1,154Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Penobscot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 13 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.