Compare towns
Readfield vs Webster vs Wayne vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 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 | Webster | Wayne | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
17,748Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6 21% 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Manchester 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Manchester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Manchester 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 |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40kLowest 10% 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. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$993±$116 30% 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. |
$3,999Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Webster | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Bartlett High School | None in town | 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.