Compare towns
Brooks vs Wayne vs Winthrop
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Brooks | Wayne | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Wayne and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Brooks and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.