What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washburn has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Perham has the most homeowners (92.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washburn	Perham
People
Population	1,355Highest	326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.5% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME
	Perham 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%	19.6%±8.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Perham 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Washburn and Perham 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	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME
	Perham 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	$117,600±$9kHighest 60% below ME
	Perham and Washburn 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME	$1,641Highest 46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100 ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Washburn and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 45/MSAD 45	—
High school in town	Washburn District High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0	—
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.