Compare towns

Appleton vs Cornish vs Washburn

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Cornish has the highest household income ($69k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.

MeasureAppletonCornishWashburn
People
Population
1,360
1,803Highest
1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
+7.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-9.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
39±8.5Lowest
13% below ME
48.2±7.7
8% above ME
Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.2%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
21.7%±3.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Washburn and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.4%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24%±3.7
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.6%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$69,038±$4kHighest
8% below ME
$56,196±$6k
25% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33k
21% below ME
$274,200±$84kHighest
8% below ME
$112,900±$14kLowest
62% below ME
Cornish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
3% below ME
$1,196±$148Highest
5% above ME
$482±$62Lowest
58% below ME
Cornish and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$2,309
24% below ME
$1,571Lowest
48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
48.8%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±24.7Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
6.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.1%
ME: 74.3%
78.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1976
1 yr older than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
23% above ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
21 minLowest
15% below ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.5%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
9.7%±3.9
ME: 15.9%
Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Appleton Public Schools — RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town None in town — Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.