Compare towns
Rome vs Appleton vs Cushing vs Brooklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Brooklin has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Rome | Appleton | Cushing | Brooklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,360 |
1,460Highest |
869Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
| Cushing and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$339,400±$90k 14% above ME |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,236±$137 9% above ME |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829 40% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 13 | Brooklin Public Schools |
| 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.