Compare towns
Wayne vs Appleton vs Winthrop 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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Winthrop | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,360 |
6,191Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Appleton 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% |
23.4%±5Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40% 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% |
3.5%±2.4 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±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$88,438±$44k 18% above ME |
| Wayne and Islesboro 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 |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$938±$252 18% 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 | $3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,506 15% above ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Winthrop 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% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%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 |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Appleton Public Schools | Winthrop Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.