Compare towns
Washburn vs Mapleton vs East Millinocket vs West Paris
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).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,355Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,495 |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2.5%Highest 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 |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Washburn and West Paris 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% |
14.3%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.8%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| East Millinocket and West Paris 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% |
23.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±3 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and East Millinocket 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 |
$56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,900±$14k 62% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$86,200±$7kLowest 71% below ME |
$193,000±$20kHighest 35% below ME |
| West Paris 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 |
$838±$333Highest 26% below ME |
| West Paris and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,571 48% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,149Lowest 62% below ME |
$2,083Highest 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% |
61.5%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
| East Millinocket and West Paris 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% ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris 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 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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.