Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Addison vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Addison has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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.

MeasureMount DesertAddisonWayne
People
Population
1,671Highest
1,045Lowest
1,101
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-9.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-5%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.9±8.2
23% above ME
54.2±3.9Lowest
21% above ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7
ME: 18.1%
15.7%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Addison and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
24.4%±3.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
19.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,813±$9k
24% above ME
$50,524±$8kLowest
32% below ME
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above ME
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66kHighest
76% above ME
$163,500±$28kLowest
45% below ME
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
$900±$807Lowest
21% below ME
$983±$554
14% below ME
Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512Highest
16% above ME
$1,625Lowest
46% below ME
$3,289
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
60%±47.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Addison and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
22.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85%
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1977
same as ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
27% below ME
27 min
11% above ME
30 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
ME: 15.9%
8.9%±4.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mount Desert Public Schools RSU 37/MSAD 37 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.