Compare towns
Mapleton vs Smithfield vs Cushing vs Union
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Smithfield | Cushing | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
856Lowest |
1,460 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Smithfield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
| Smithfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Cushing and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 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 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 13 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.