Compare towns
Washington vs Sidney vs Salisbury
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%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Washington and Salisbury 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Washington 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±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sidney 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sidney 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Washington School District | RSU 18 | Merrimack Valley 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.