What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k 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	Washington	Searsmont
People
Population	1,624Lowest	1,646Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average
	Washington and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Washington and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Washington and Searsmont 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%	31.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont 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±$17kLowest 20% below ME	$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME
	Searsmont 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	$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME
	Washington and Searsmont 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	$2,788Highest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Washington and Searsmont 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%	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 30% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	14.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Searsmont 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 71
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.