Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 DesertWebsterWayne
People
Population
1,671
2,227Highest
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2
41% above U.S.
44.7±7.6Lowest
15% 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%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
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%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4Lowest
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.
$107,171±$14kHighest
33% above U.S.
$93,194±$26k
15% above U.S.
Webster 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.
$338,500±$30kLowest
about the U.S. average
$362,800±$29k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89
5% below U.S.
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$983±$554Lowest
30% below U.S.
Webster and Mount Desert 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.
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster 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
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9Lowest
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 Merrimack Valley School District 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

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.