Compare towns
Readfield vs Salem vs Wayne
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 most kids (18.7% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
44,795Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Wayne 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. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| 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±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Salem | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.