Compare towns
Thomaston vs Mapleton vs Lubec vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Lubec has the most people working from home (26.3%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
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 | Thomaston | Mapleton | Lubec | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
1,884 |
1,346Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±6.6 30% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Lubec and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.5%±8.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lubec and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.6% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.2%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Lubec and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$52,375±$11kLowest 30% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
| Mapleton and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$188,700±$26kLowest 36% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,262±$343 11% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$550±$204Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,039 33% below ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.6%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.3%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Lubec and Cushing 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 13 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | None 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.