What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waterville	Cushing
People
Population	17,077Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Cushing and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	20.5%±0.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cushing and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,755Lowest 9% below ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Waterville and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 27% below ME	23 minHighest 5% below ME
Work from home	16.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Waterville 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	#105 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Waterville Public Schools	RSU 13
High school in town	Waterville Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.