Compare towns
Wayne vs Appleton vs Dedham
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%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
1,360 |
1,656Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
| Dedham and Wayne 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 |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
| Wayne and Dedham 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 |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
| Dedham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 38 | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham 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.