Compare towns
Calais vs Mapleton vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Mapleton has the most expensive homes ($192k median).
Washburn has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Calais | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±5.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Calais and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Calais and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,096±$10k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $111,100±$36kLowest 63% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,010±$199Highest 11% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Calais and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,684 45% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Calais and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 35% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton 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 | #48 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Calais Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | Calais Middle/High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | 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.