Compare towns
Readfield vs Dedham vs Bath vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Readfield | Dedham | Bath | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,656 |
8,815Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
45.4±3Lowest about the ME average |
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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Bath 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$69,390±$12kLowest 7% below ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$310,900±$30kLowest 5% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Dedham 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 |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,044±$116 8% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,847 27% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Bath 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
12.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6 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 | — | #31 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Morse High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.