Compare towns
Jefferson vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Limerick
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).
Readfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Readfield | Wayne | Limerick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,647 |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
3,400Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$17kLowest 14% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
| 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 |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$269,400±$29kLowest 9% 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 | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
| Limerick and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Limerick and Readfield 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% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.