Compare towns
Wayne vs Appleton vs Dedham vs Islesboro
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).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 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 | Appleton | Dedham | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,360 |
1,656Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
| Islesboro 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% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Wayne 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% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$88,438±$44k 18% 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 |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below 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 |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$4,300Highest 42% 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% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Islesboro 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% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below 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% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Islesboro 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 | 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.