Compare towns

Washburn vs Milbridge vs Mapleton 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).
Milbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).

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.

MeasureWashburnMilbridgeMapletonBrooks
People
Population
1,355
1,222
1,884Highest
1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+1.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.2±7.7
8% above ME
50.3±6.2Highest
12% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
45.9±6.6
about the ME average
Milbridge and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
22.5%±4.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Milbridge and Mapleton 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%
30.2%±5.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
17%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Milbridge 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%
24.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
1.2%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
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±$6kLowest
25% below ME
$60,536±$16k
19% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$59,130±$10k
21% below ME
Mapleton and Milbridge 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
$240,400±$31kHighest
19% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
$196,700±$33k
34% below ME
Milbridge 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
$619±$186
46% below ME
$610±$277
46% below ME
$1,116±$112Highest
about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,571Lowest
48% below ME
$2,022
33% below ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$2,096Highest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±24.7
ME: 48.4%
45.8%±22.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3
ME: 48.4%
Milbridge 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%
18.4%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.2%
ME: 74.3%
85.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1974
3 yrs older than ME
1977
same as ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
15% below ME
18 minLowest
26% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
9.7%±3.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.9%±6.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
14.5%±2.9
ME: 15.9%
Milbridge and Brooks 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 37/MSAD 37 RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town Washburn District High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0
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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.