Compare towns
Washburn vs Strong vs Wade vs Mapleton
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).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Wade has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Strong | Wade | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,355 |
1,249 |
244Lowest |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Wade 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$157,100±$109k 47% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
| Mapleton and Strong 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 |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
— | $610±$277 46% below ME |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Strong 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Washburn District High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.