Compare towns
Washington vs Sidney 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 oldest population (median age 55).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Sidney | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
4,790Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$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. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Washington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
— |
| Sidney and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,321 39% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,558Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Sidney 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington School District | RSU 18 | Lempster School District |
| 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 |
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.