The Town FilesWashburn, Maine
Town in Aroostook County · population 1,527 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,900
- Household income
- $56,196
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 118 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 48.2
Washburn is a town of 1,527 people in Aroostook County, Maine. The median home is worth $112,900, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Maine towns, quieter than 76% of Maine towns, better for families than 73% of Maine towns.
How Washburn ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Washburn is worth $112,900, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $56,196, which is more affordable than 97% of Maine towns. Median rent is $482 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washburn | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,900 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $482 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $56,196 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Washburn
| People | Washburn | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 90.0% |
Weather in Washburn
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 2.6°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 118.2 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 18, 1994 about 0.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 1994.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1958.
Severe weather in Aroostook County since 1996
Aroostook County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
| February 1, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 9, 2008 | Flood | DR-1755: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Aroostook County
Aroostook County had 25,999 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,148 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Washburn itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Washburn
2 public schools with 259 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn District Elem School | PK-8 | 176 | 11.0 |
| Washburn District High School | 9-12 | 83 | 9.2 |
Towns near Washburn
- Washburn, ME1.4 mi · 937 people · home $99,300
- Mapleton, ME6.2 mi · 1,886 people · home $191,800
- Woodland, ME6.4 mi · 1,217 people · home $150,300
- Mapleton, ME7.9 mi · 623 people · home $137,900
- Caribou, ME8.8 mi · 7,396 people · home $134,100
- Presque Isle, ME9.0 mi · 8,797 people · home $147,200
- Fort Fairfield, ME11.9 mi · 3,322 people · home $161,000
- New Sweden, ME12.8 mi · 577 people · home $164,700
Washburn questions
Is Washburn, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washburn scores better for retirees than 50% of Maine towns and quieter than 76%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Washburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Washburn is valued at $112,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,196, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $482 a month.
What is the weather like in Washburn?
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 2.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 118.2 inches of snow.
Does Washburn get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 18, 1994. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)