Compare towns
Washington vs Strong vs Danforth vs Peru
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 expensive homes ($195k median).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($67k).
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 | Strong | Danforth | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Highest |
1,249 |
452Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Strong 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% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru 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 |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru 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±$36kHighest 34% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
| Washington and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Highest 9% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Washington and Strong 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
— | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Peru 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | — | RSU 56 |
| 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.