Compare towns
Readfield vs Saco vs Belgrade 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Saco | Belgrade | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
20,819Highest |
3,351 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
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% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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% |
43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 16% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Saco Public Schools | 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 |
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.