What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pownal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pownal	Wayne
People
Population	1,696Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Wayne and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49%Highest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,333±$14kHighest 40% above ME	$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME
	Pownal and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,800±$32kHighest 47% above ME	$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$636Lowest 14% below ME	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME
	Wayne and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,212Highest 72% above ME	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Pownal and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 22% above ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	23.9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 05	RSU 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.