What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.8%).

Washburn has the most people working from home (9.7%).

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	Jay	Washburn
People
Population	4,657Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
	Washburn and Jay 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%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jay and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
	Jay and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Highest 33% below ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Highest 26% below ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 13% below ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Washburn and Jay 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 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.