Compare towns
Readfield vs Unity 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
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Wayne | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,858 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| 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% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| 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±$20k 10% above ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$892±$319 22% 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 | $3,392 12% above ME |
$2,510Lowest 17% 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% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%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 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.4Highest |
— | 11.7 |
| 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.