Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Readfield vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Bowdoinham | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1 16% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Bowdoinham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Lowest about the ME average |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 | #73 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.