What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

Sullivan has the most expensive homes ($222k 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.

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

Measure	Washburn	Sullivan
People
Population	1,355Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME	47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME
	Washburn and Sullivan 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%	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%	22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Washburn and Sullivan 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%	26% ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan 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±$6kLowest 25% below ME	$59,643±$14kHighest 20% below ME
	Sullivan 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	$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME	$883±$114Highest 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME	$2,228Highest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sullivan and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	26 minHighest 7% above ME
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sullivan 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	RSU 24
High school in town	Washburn District High School	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.5Lowest
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.