Compare towns
Somerville vs Waterville vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Somerville | Waterville | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837Lowest |
17,077Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505 17% below ME |
$2,755Highest 9% below ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17% ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | — | #105 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.