Compare towns
Fayette vs Wayne vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Fayette | Wayne | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,383 |
1,101Lowest |
1,397Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below 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%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest 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 |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,600±$48k 13% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$214,000±$40kLowest 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$816Lowest 14% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Chesterville and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,160 4% above ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 22.1%±7.1 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 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.