Compare towns
Washington vs Danforth vs Somerville vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Somerville has the youngest population (median age 33.5).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k 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 | Washington | Danforth | Somerville | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624 |
452Lowest |
837 |
2,647Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
| Danforth and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
| Jefferson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
— | $2,505 17% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 12 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.