What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).

Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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	Whiting
People
Population	1,208Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S.	39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Whiting 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%	13%±5.1Lowest 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%	6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Whiting 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.	$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Whiting 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.	$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S.
	Whiting and Washington 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.	$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whiting and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washington and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington School District	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.