Compare towns
Wayne vs Acton vs Northport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Northport has the shortest commute (25 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 | Wayne | Acton | Northport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,621 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME |
56.6±3.8Highest 26% above ME |
| Northport and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Northport and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.2%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$73,523±$8kLowest about the ME average |
| Wayne and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
$343,400±$36k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
— | $1,088±$299Highest 4% below ME |
| Northport and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$2,721 10% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.8%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Acton 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Acton Public Schools | Northport Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.