What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waldoboro has the most expensive homes ($275k median).

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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	Washington
People
Population	5,253Highest	1,624Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME	48.2±6.7Lowest 8% above ME
	Waldoboro and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waldoboro and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%	21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Waldoboro and Washington 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%	17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%
	Washington 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	$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME
	Waldoboro and Washington 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	$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME	$1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,861Highest 6% below ME	$2,286Lowest 25% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Washington 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%	15.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 3% above ME	32 minHighest 30% above ME
Work from home	6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Washington 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 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	Medomak Valley High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.