What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).

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.

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

Measure	Belfast	Washburn
People
Population	6,986Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kHighest 9% below ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
	Belfast and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Highest 16% below ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Highest 37% above ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 13% below ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	12%±6Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Belfast and Washburn 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	#84 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 71	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.0Highest
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.