Compare towns
Knox vs Wayne vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Princeton has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
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 | Knox | Wayne | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 825Lowest |
1,101Highest |
866 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
39.1±9.4Lowest 13% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$56,406±$26kLowest 25% below ME |
| Wayne and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$675±$351Lowest 41% below ME |
| Knox and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,573Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
57.7%±23.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Princeton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Princeton Public Schools |
| 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.