Compare towns
Washburn vs Mapleton vs East Millinocket 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 oldest population (median age 48.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
East Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
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 | Mapleton | East Millinocket | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,355 |
1,884Highest |
1,495 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±8.7 about the ME average |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Washburn and East Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±6.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.8%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| East Millinocket 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4%±3 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$42,011±$7kLowest 44% below ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
| Mapleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$86,200±$7kLowest 71% below ME |
$196,700±$33kHighest 34% below ME |
| Brooks and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $482±$62 58% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$449±$150Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,571 48% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,149Lowest 62% below ME |
$2,096Highest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±21.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| East Millinocket 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
21.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
19.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | East Millinocket Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Washburn District High School | None in town | Schenck High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.