Compare towns
Hope vs Wayne vs Union vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Hope | Wayne | Union | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,101Lowest |
2,663Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 47.4% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Hope and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 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 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| 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.