Compare towns
Wayne vs Appleton vs Washburn vs Bremen
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%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Bremen has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Washburn | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,360Highest |
1,355 |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME |
52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Bremen 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% |
21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Washburn and Bremen 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% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.1%±9.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bremen 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% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
$100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
| Bremen 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±$29k 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 8% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,829 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Bremen 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.