What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hiram has the most expensive homes ($257k 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	Hiram	Washburn
People
Population	1,748Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
	Washburn and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25%Lowest ME: 36.2%	26%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Washburn and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,813±$10kHighest 16% below ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
	Hiram and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,600±$42kHighest 13% below ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,106Highest 31% below ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hiram and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 28% above ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Washburn and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 55/MSAD 55	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Sacopee Valley High Sch	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.