What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buckfield	Wayne
People
Population	2,403Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
Kids under 18	25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,917±$41kLowest 4% above ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,700±$18kLowest 23% below ME	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,860Lowest 6% below ME	$3,289Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	30 minLowest 24% above ME
Work from home	15.6%±12.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	RSU 38
High school in town	Buckfield Jr-Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.