Compare towns
Readfield vs Standish 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).
Standish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Standish | Belgrade | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
10,662Highest |
3,351 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
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% |
16.4%±3.1 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
36%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% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Standish 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 |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Standish 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 |
$983±$453 14% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 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 |
29 min 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 18 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.