What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Whitefield	Cushing
People
Population	2,157Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME	48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME
	Whitefield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Whitefield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4%	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Whitefield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME
	Cushing and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,366Lowest 22% below ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cushing and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	23 minLowest 5% below ME
Work from home	13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 12	RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.