Compare towns
Thomaston vs Sumner vs Cushing vs Lubec
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Lubec has the most people working from home (26.3%).
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 | Sumner | Cushing | Lubec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,769Highest |
845Lowest |
1,460 |
1,346 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±6.6 30% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME |
59.3±4.5Highest 32% 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%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
41.2%±3.4Highest 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.2%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lubec 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±$13k 24% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$52,375±$11kLowest 30% below ME |
| Cushing and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$188,700±$26k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,262±$343 11% above ME |
— | $1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$550±$204Lowest 52% below 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$3,944 30% above ME |
$2,039Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.6%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
78.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
26.3%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lubec and Sumner 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 10 | RSU 13 | RSU 85/MSAD 19 |
| 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.