Compare towns
Readfield vs Cornish vs Belgrade vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Cornish | Belgrade | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,816 |
3,351Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Lowest 22% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Cornish School District | RSU 18 | RSU 38 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.