Washburn downstream, 2000
Washburn’s story
165 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2000.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1861Washburn is incorporated
WashburnME
A town of 1,499, incorporated in 1861.
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Adolphus79 (talk) · Public domain
Population
1,499
2025 Census estimate · −1.8% since 2020
Typical home
$145K
+1% in a year
Household income
$56K
median
Median age
48.2
years
Jobs based here
252
A commuter town
Is Washburn a good place to live?
The best of Washburn’s subject grades are an A for cost of living and an A− for civic life; the weakest is a D− for schools. Only 5 of Maine’s 285 towns score higher on cost of living. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 85% of U.S. towns. No town among the 86 in Maine we compare has a lower property crime rate than Washburn. Benjamin C. Wilder House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Washburn has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Washburn stand out
Where Washburn beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
Washburn$145K
Maine$412K
Cost of livingA
2.6 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 91% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Natural hazardsB+
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
RSU 45/MSAD 45 schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Washburn District Elem School | PK–8 | 180 |
| Washburn District High School | 9–12 | 91 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD−
Trails 99% of ME districts
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,499 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
MapletonWadeWoodlandWashburn
How Washburn grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maine), ordered by how far Washburn is from typical.
SchoolsD−Open →Cost of livingAOpen →Jobs & income$56K median household income; 252 jobs based hereDOpen →HealthCary Medical Center 7.6 miles awayDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.2 of 20; 7.9% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1% conserved landCOpen →HistoryIncorporated 1861; 1 place on the National RegisterB−Open →Civic life4.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 48.2; 26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Washburn: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Washburn, and how to reach them.
PowerVersant Power30.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWashburn Water & Sewer DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers82% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Washburn’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Maine you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereWashburn Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026
ZIP code0478604786 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Washburn.
SchoolsD−
Washburn’s public schools rank near the bottom of Maine
Its public schools are run by RSU 45/MSAD 45. Its two schools are below.
1%of ME districts it outscoresD−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn District Elem SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 180 | C− |
| Washburn District High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 91 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ME on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade A
Compared with most of Maine and the rest of the country, the median rent in Washburn is lower
Washburn’s median rent is $482 a month, below both the Maine town median ($1,106 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). The typical Washburn home is worth about $145,000, up 1% in a year, 65% below the Maine typical home.
$145KZillow home value
| Washburn | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $482 a month | $1,106 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 81% | 73% |
Typical home value
Washburn$145K
Maine$412K
+1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthD
Washburn is less healthy than 86% of U.S. towns
Washburn beats the Maine average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 42% of Washburn adults have high blood pressure, against 35% in Maine’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 17% of Washburn adults report frequent physical distress.
14%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Washburn | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 35% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 23% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Maine
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Washburn | ME |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who get no exercise | 31.7% | 23.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20.1% | 14.8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 13.8% | 10.7% |
Cary Medical Center
7.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Washburn’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Washburn for work: only 9% work in town. Washburn’s average trip to work is 21 minutes. The top destinations are Presque Isle (27%), Caribou (19%) and Bangor (4%).
9%work in town
| Washburn | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $56,000 | $78,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 9% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 14% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Washburn9%
Presque Isle27%
Caribou19%
Bangor4%
Easton3%
10 mi
median commute distance
252
jobs based in Washburn
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 15% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Washburn faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 73% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Washburn.
27risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingHurricanes
4
paid flood claims since 1981
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Washburn
Washburn has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Washburn is 77°F.
118″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter5–24°
Spring27–49°
Summer52–75°
Fall35–53°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Washburn
Washburn's reported crime rate is well below Maine's. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2023.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Washburn0.7
Maine1
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Washburn0.7
Maine11.4
U.S.19.5
1
violent crimes reported in 2023
1
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsC
Washburn has set aside 1.2% of its land for conservation
11 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Caribou Stream Wildlife Management Area, at 614 acres.
1.2%conserved
| Washburn | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.2% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
1.2%
conserved · 262 of 22,209 acres
11 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Caribou Stream Wildlife Management Area | — | 614 |
| 2. Thomas Brewer Memorial Park | — | 6 |
| 3. Mill Pond Recreation Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Washburn
18pages on Washburn
The big questions
SchoolsD−Behind 99% of ME districts · 2 schoolsSafety0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthDBetter than ME on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$145K typical home · up 1% in a yearWork & commuteD$56K median household income · 252 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Washburn
Northern Maine Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Presque Isle7.6 mi$4,156 in-state tuitionUniversity of Maine at Presque IsleUniversity or college · Public · Presque Isle9.4 mi$9,402 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Washburn residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Maine.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Washburn for work
Where Washburn’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
252jobs based in Washburn
9%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Washburn
Town in Maine, United States
Washburn is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. It was incorporated on February 25, 1861, and named after Israel Washburn, the governor of Maine at the time. The population was 1,527 at the 2020 census. Benjamin C. Wilder House, which was built in 1852, is located on Main Street in Washburn and predates the town's incorporation by nine years.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 35 sq mi
- Elevation
- 653 ft
- ZIP code
- 04786
- Area code
- 207
Questions about Washburn
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Washburn, ME expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.