Compare towns
Warren vs Wayne vs Appleton vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Warren | Wayne | Appleton | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,360 |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Cushing and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
| Wayne and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Cushing and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 min 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 38 | Appleton Public Schools | 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.