Compare towns
Jefferson vs Somerville vs Wayne
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 renters (16.2% rent).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Somerville | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
837Lowest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Jefferson 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% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest 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 |
$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Jefferson 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 |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above 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 |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$2,505Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Jefferson 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% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 12 | RSU 38 |
| 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 |
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.