Compare towns
Fairfield 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
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,356Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 34.2±7.7Lowest 24% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,409±$23kLowest 30% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$17k 53% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$142Highest 11% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Fairfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,119Highest 30% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Fairfield and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.8%±4.4Lowest 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 | #47 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.