What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k 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	Whitingham
People
Population	1,355Lowest	1,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Washburn and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Washburn and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washburn and Whitingham 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 30% below U.S.	$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Whitingham 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 66% below U.S.	$262,300±$30kHighest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.	$673±$150Highest 52% below U.S.
	Whitingham and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.	$5,055Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham 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 U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	RSU 45/MSAD 45	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	Washburn District High School	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	7.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.