What stands out worked out from the figures below

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Searsmont	Wayne
People
Population	1,646Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Searsmont and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,000±$20kLowest 16% above ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$284,000±$31kLowest 4% below ME	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME
	Wayne and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,788Lowest 8% below ME	$3,289Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 71	RSU 38
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.