Compare towns
Minot vs Cushing vs Mechanic Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Mechanic Falls has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Minot | Cushing | Mechanic Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,794 |
1,460Lowest |
3,134Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49±6.1Highest 9% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
| Minot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Minot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$69,914±$12kLowest 6% below ME |
| Minot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,900±$26k about the ME average |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$270,900±$44kLowest 9% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,076±$208 6% below ME |
| Cushing and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,993 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±40.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mechanic Falls and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
26 minHighest 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Minot 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 | #78 of 133 in ME | — | #122 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 13 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.