Compare towns
Readfield vs Wayne vs Mapleton vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pownal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Wayne | Mapleton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,884 |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.2±8.4 5% 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pownal and Mapleton 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Pownal 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% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$104,333±$14kHighest 40% above ME |
| Pownal 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 |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$436,800±$32kHighest 47% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$981±$636 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 | $3,392 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$5,212Highest 72% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 05 |
| 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 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.