Compare towns
Readfield vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Exeter | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Wayne 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
$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±$20k 10% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| 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±$844Highest about the ME average |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.