Compare towns
Readfield vs Hampton Beach vs Wayne vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wayne has the highest household income ($93k).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Wayne | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
2,605 |
1,101Lowest |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Wayne 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Wayne 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 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±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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 |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Wayne 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 | — | RSU 38 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | 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.