Compare towns
Danforth vs Franklin vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Washburn has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Danforth | Franklin | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,628Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46±9.3Lowest about the ME average |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Danforth and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Franklin and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Franklin and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,571 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Franklin and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school 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.