What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minot has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k 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	Minot	Washington
People
Population	2,794Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1% U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S.	55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S.
	Washington and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Minot and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Minot and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,655±$17kHighest 18% above U.S.	$89,453±$12kLowest 11% above U.S.
	Minot and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.	$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S.
	Washington and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.	$4,321Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±40.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minot and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	36 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	16.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minot and Washington 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	#78 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 16	Washington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.