What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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	Rupert	Washburn
People
Population	676Lowest	1,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	48.2±7.7Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Rupert and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washburn and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Rupert and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$482±$62 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Washburn and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	—	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.