Compare towns
Washington vs Jackson vs Somerville
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 oldest population (median age 48.2).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
567Lowest |
837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
| Washington and Jackson 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% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Washington and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Washington and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
| Jackson 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±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Jackson 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±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest 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% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Washington 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.