Compare towns

Poland vs Readfield vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Readfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

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.

MeasurePolandReadfieldWayne
People
Population
5,954Highest
2,651
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
0%
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.2±9.4Lowest
about the ME average
48.1±7.6
7% above ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.7%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Poland and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±4.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
22.3%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8Highest
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+
23.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
3.3%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,557±$23kLowest
14% above ME
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above 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
$283,600±$44kLowest
4% below ME
$326,400±$20k
10% above ME
$362,800±$29kHighest
22% above ME
Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$128Highest
5% above ME
$1,125±$844
about the ME average
$983±$554Lowest
14% below ME
Poland and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,774Lowest
9% below ME
$3,392Highest
12% above ME
$3,289
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.6%±30.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
31.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Poland and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
13% above ME
30 min
20% above ME
30 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
21.9%±10.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
24.3%±14.9
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
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 #81 of 133 in ME #20 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 16 RSU 38 RSU 38
High school in town Poland Regional H S Maranacook Community High Sch None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
11.5Lowest
—
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.