Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Wayne vs Readfield
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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Wayne | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1 16% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 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% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% 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 |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% 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 | — | $983±$554Lowest 14% 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 | $2,958Lowest about the ME average |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest 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 |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 | #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 | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| 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.