Compare towns

Readfield vs Brunswick vs Wayne

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 affordable homes ($326k median).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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.

MeasureReadfieldBrunswickWayne
People
Population
2,651
22,336Highest
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
ME: +2.6%
+7.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
48.1±7.6
7% above ME
40±2.8Lowest
11% below 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
18.7%±3.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.2%±2.2
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Readfield and Brunswick 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%
22.9%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
53.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
13.3%±1.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,504±$8k
16% above ME
$74,952±$6kLowest
about the ME average
$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
$326,400±$20kLowest
10% above ME
$376,300±$15kHighest
27% above ME
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
Brunswick and Wayne 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
$1,469±$99Highest
29% above ME
$983±$554Lowest
14% below ME
Brunswick and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,392
12% above ME
$4,756Highest
57% above ME
$3,289Lowest
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±8.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Brunswick 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%
7.7%
ME: 10.7%
7.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
71.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
20% above ME
23 minLowest
5% below ME
30 minHighest
24% above ME
Work from home
24.3%±14.9
ME: 15.9%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
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 #20 of 133 in ME #30 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 38 Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 RSU 38
High school in town Maranacook Community High Sch Brunswick High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
10.9Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.