Compare towns
Readfield vs Waterville 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 kids (18.7% under 18).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Waterville | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
17,077Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% 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%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Waterville 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% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% 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 |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below 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 |
$978±$72Lowest 14% 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 |
$2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Readfield 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Lowest 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.