What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Thomaston has the shortest commute (16 min average).

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	South Thomaston	Wayne
People
Population	1,381Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.3±11.3Lowest 21% above ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±3.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Thomaston and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	South Thomaston and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9%±9.1Highest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	South Thomaston and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,838±$7kLowest 16% above ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,300±$37kLowest 15% above ME	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME
	Wayne and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$925±$633Lowest 19% below ME	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME
	Wayne and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,442Highest 13% above ME	$3,289Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.6%±43.5Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Thomaston and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 36% below ME	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	8.3%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	—	RSU 38
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.