Compare towns
Jay 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
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
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 | Jay | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% 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 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest 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+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Jay and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.