What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the most expensive homes ($214k median).

Washburn has the most people working from home (9.7%).

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	Whiting	Washburn
People
Population	506Lowest	1,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-9.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	50±5Highest 12% above ME	48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME
	Whiting and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Whiting and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Washburn and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME	$56,196±$6kHighest 25% below ME
	Washburn and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$214,200±$52kHighest 28% below ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$600±$333Highest 47% below ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
	Whiting and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,728Highest 43% below ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100 ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 10% below ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Washburn and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Whiting Public Schools	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	None in town	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.