Compare towns
Jefferson vs Limerick vs Wayne vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Jefferson | Limerick | Wayne | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647 |
3,400Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| Limerick and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Limerick and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Limerick 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | — | RSU 38 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.