Compare towns
Readfield vs South Berwick 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 most affordable homes ($326k median).
South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | South Berwick | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
7,670Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below 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% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and South Berwick 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 |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| South Berwick 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±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| South Berwick 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 |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.