Compare towns
Belgrade vs Wayne vs Winthrop vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the youngest population (median age 43.6).
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 | Belgrade | Wayne | Winthrop | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
40%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$892±$319 22% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
| Readfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | — | #12 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.