Compare towns
Ludlow vs Wayne vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% 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 | Ludlow | Wayne | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 444 |
1,101Highest |
380Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
| Wayne and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
33.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Smyrna and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Wayne and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$117,100±$10kLowest 61% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111Highest 13% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$425±$63Lowest 63% below ME |
| Ludlow and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
15 minLowest 37% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±6.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | — |
| High school 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.