Compare towns
Readfield vs Middlesex vs Wayne vs Orrington
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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Wayne | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,943 |
1,101Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.5±3.3 27% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Orrington 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Orrington 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orrington 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,167±$135 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orrington 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Readfield and Wayne 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 38 | Orrington Public Schools |
| 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.