Compare towns
Readfield vs Smithfield vs Wayne vs Winthrop
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Smithfield | Wayne | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
856Lowest |
1,101 |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Smithfield 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 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop 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 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
| Smithfield and Wayne 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 |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Readfield and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Smithfield 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 20% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| 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.