Compare towns
Washburn vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Brooks has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Wayne | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,355Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Brooks 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
| Wayne and Brooks 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 38 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 History | 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.