Compare towns
Exeter vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Garland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Garland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Exeter | Readfield | Wayne | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
2,651Highest |
1,101 |
823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
53.5±4.3 19% above ME |
| Wayne and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$51,094±$12kLowest 32% 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 | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$205,400±$38k 31% 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 | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
| Readfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 47% below ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±46.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Garland and Exeter 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% |
19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 38 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school 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.