What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k median).

Minot has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Minot
People
Population	1,208Lowest	2,794Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1% U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S.	49±6.1Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Washington and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Minot and Washington 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%	21.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Minot 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±$12kLowest 11% above U.S.	$95,655±$17kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Minot and Washington 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.	$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S.	$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S.
	Washington and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,321Highest 39% above U.S.	$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	35.7%±40.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minot and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Minot 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	—	#78 of 133 in ME
School district	Washington School District	RSU 16
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.