Compare towns
Damariscotta 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
Damariscotta has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Damariscotta | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,192 |
2,651Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.6 10% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Damariscotta and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Damariscotta and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest 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 | $59,423±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above 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 | $363,500±$42kHighest 23% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Damariscotta and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$88 10% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.2%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Damariscotta and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Great Salt Bay CSD | 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 |
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.