Compare towns
Sidney vs Wayne vs Readfield vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Readfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Sidney | Wayne | Readfield | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,651 |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Durham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
| Wayne and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
— |
| Sidney and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #20 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.