Compare towns
Brownfield vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Denmark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Readfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Brownfield | Readfield | Wayne | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,830 |
2,651Highest |
1,101 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
54.4±5 21% above ME |
| Wayne and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,889±$5kLowest 19% below ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,500±$36k 3% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$250,000±$68kLowest 16% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
| Brownfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,976 about the ME average |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,259Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 80% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | 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 | 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.