Compare towns
Rome vs Unity vs Cushing vs Smithfield
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%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Cushing | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,858Highest |
1,460 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield 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% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Cushing 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Cushing and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 13 | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.