Compare towns
Readfield vs Wayne vs Webster vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Webster | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
17,748Highest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Webster 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 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Webster and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$3,999Highest 28% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | Webster | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.