Compare towns
Washburn vs Appleton vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).
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 | Washburn | Appleton | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,355 |
1,360Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,130±$10kHighest 21% below ME |
| Brooks and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Washburn District High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.