Compare towns
Douglas vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Douglas | Readfield | Wayne | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #20 of 133 in ME | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.