Compare towns
Paris vs Wayne vs Houlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Houlton has the shortest commute (10 min average).
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 | Paris | Wayne | Houlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317 |
1,101Lowest |
6,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
45.4±2.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Wayne and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Houlton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,137±$20k about the ME average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$61,058±$14kLowest 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$137,000±$31kLowest 54% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$785±$66Lowest 31% below ME |
| Wayne and Houlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649 13% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,707Lowest 44% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.7%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Houlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
10 minLowest 58% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Paris 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | — | #50 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 38 | RSU 29/MSAD 29 · Houlton-Region 2 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Houlton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 16.8 |
| 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.