Compare towns
Wade vs Exeter vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wade has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Wade | Exeter | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,093 |
1,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME |
| Wade and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Washburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,100±$109k 47% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Exeter and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655Highest 45% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 37% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Wade 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 | 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.