Compare towns
Readfield vs Acton vs Wayne vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 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 | Readfield | Acton | Wayne | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
2,721 |
1,101Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.5±3.3 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
| Orrington and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 about the ME average |
— | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,167±$135Highest about the ME average |
| Orrington and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,823 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 38 | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.