Compare towns
Rome vs Steuben 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%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Brooklin has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Steuben | Cushing | Brooklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,388 |
1,460Highest |
869Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
| Brooklin and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%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% |
5.2%±1.4 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 |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$68,750±$8kLowest 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 |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% 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 |
$678±$319Lowest 40% 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 |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Cushing 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% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 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 | — | RSU 24 | 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.