Compare towns
Washington vs Danforth vs Somerville vs Liberty
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 homeowners (92.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Liberty has the most expensive homes ($230k 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 | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
452Lowest |
837 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest 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 |
40.5±6.8 10% 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% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Liberty 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% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Liberty 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% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Washington and Danforth 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±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Somerville and Liberty 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 |
$229,600±$31kHighest 23% below ME |
| Liberty and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
— | $2,505Highest 17% below ME |
$2,434 20% 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% |
38.5%±42.4 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% 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 |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% 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% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 12 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.