Compare towns
Washington vs Acton vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Acton | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,721Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Washington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 39% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,558Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington School District | Acton Public Schools | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.