Compare towns
Sebec vs Wayne vs Whiting vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sebec has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sebec | Wayne | Whiting | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 547 |
1,101Highest |
506 |
424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.3±7.6Lowest 10% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
50±5 12% above ME |
50.9±9.9 14% above ME |
| Wayne and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sebec and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,545±$37k about the ME average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME |
$72,656±$12k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,000±$40k 21% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$214,200±$52k 28% below ME |
$210,200±$38kLowest 29% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
— |
| Wayne and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,810 40% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,728 43% below ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
96.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.2%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Sebec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Whiting Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.