Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Springfield vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 DesertSpringfieldWayne
People
Population
1,671Highest
1,122
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2
41% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Lowest
32% above U.S.
55.6±5.3Highest
43% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Springfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$9kLowest
15% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$93,194±$26k
15% above U.S.
Springfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66kHighest
57% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$362,800±$29kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Highest
5% below U.S.
$1,096±$217
22% below U.S.
$983±$554Lowest
30% below U.S.
Mount Desert and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512
13% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mount Desert and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 38
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.