Compare towns
Readfield vs Surry 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Surry | Belgrade | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,836 |
3,351Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7 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%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry 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% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest 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±$8k 16% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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 |
$296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| 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 |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Wayne 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 |
$1,903Lowest 37% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%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 |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Surry 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 Our Story | 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.