Compare towns
Kingfield vs Wayne vs Islesboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingfield has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
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 | Kingfield | Wayne | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
1,101Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.4±4.6Lowest 24% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Kingfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,750±$26kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$88,438±$44k 18% above ME |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $194,300±$41kLowest 34% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,180Lowest 28% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.7%±24.3 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Islesboro and Kingfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±8.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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.