What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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	Washington	Mercer
People
Population	1,624Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME
	Washington and Mercer 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%	20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mercer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Washington and Mercer 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	$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME
	Mercer and Washington 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	$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME
	Mercer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME
	Mercer and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,286Highest 25% below ME	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Washington and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987 10 yrs newer than ME	1987 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 30% above ME	30 minLowest 23% above ME
Work from home	14.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.