Compare towns
Thomaston vs Paris 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).
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Paris | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,769 |
5,317Highest |
1,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Thomaston and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
| Cushing and Paris 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 |
$240,400±$57kLowest 19% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,262±$343Lowest 11% above 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 |
$2,649Lowest 13% below ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Thomaston 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% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9% ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below ME |
22 min 9% below ME |
23 minHighest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Paris 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 13 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 13 |
| 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.