Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Wayne vs Windsor

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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% 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.

MeasureMount DesertWayneWindsor
People
Population
1,671
1,101Lowest
2,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.9±8.2
23% above ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
43.5±8Lowest
about the ME average
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%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.2%±6.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Windsor 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%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
14.3%±4.4Lowest
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%
48.8%
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.6Lowest
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
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above ME
$63,178±$5kLowest
15% below 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
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
$228,800±$22kLowest
23% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89Highest
18% above ME
$983±$554Lowest
14% below ME
$1,265±$400
11% above ME
Mount Desert and Windsor 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
$3,289
8% above ME
$2,160Lowest
29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
46.2%±31.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Windsor 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%
7.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
27% below ME
30 min
24% above ME
36 minHighest
45% above ME
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.5%±3Lowest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #44 of 133 in ME
School district Mount Desert Public Schools RSU 38 RSU 12
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.