What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waldoboro has the most expensive homes ($275k 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	Waldoboro	Washburn
People
Population	5,253Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME	48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME
	Waldoboro and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Washburn and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Washburn and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,107±$8kHighest 8% below ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
	Waldoboro and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME	$482±$62Highest 58% below ME
	Washburn and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,861Highest 6% below ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Washburn and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 3% above ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Washburn and Waldoboro 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	#55 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 40/MSAD 40	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Medomak Valley High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.