What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fayette has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

Wayne has the highest household income ($93k).

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	Fayette	Wayne
People
Population	1,383Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME	55.6±5.3Lowest 24% above ME
	Fayette and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Fayette and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Fayette and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$48kLowest 13% below ME	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$816 14% below ME	$983±$554 14% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,160Lowest 4% above ME	$3,289Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Fayette and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9% ME: 10.7%	7.9% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 33% above ME	30 minLowest 24% above ME
Work from home	22.1%±7.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Fayette Public Schools	RSU 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.