Compare towns
Peru vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Dixfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 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 | Peru | Readfield | Wayne | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
2,651Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
0%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
| Wayne and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Readfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.