Compare towns
Washburn vs Perham vs Wade
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Perham has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Wade has the most expensive homes ($157k median).
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 | Perham | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,355Highest |
326 |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME |
53±12.9 18% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
| Wade and Perham 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%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7Lowest 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%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Perham 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% |
18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest 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±$6k 25% below ME |
$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% 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±$9k 60% below ME |
$157,100±$109kHighest 47% below ME |
| Wade and Perham 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 |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$1,655Highest 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wade and Washburn 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 | 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.