Compare towns
Wayne vs Belfast 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%).
Belfast has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Belfast | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
6,986Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Lowest 24% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
57±8.4 27% above ME |
| Belfast and Islesboro 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% |
14.2%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belfast and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Islesboro and Belfast 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% |
42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below 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 |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average |
| Wayne and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Belfast 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 |
$4,145 37% above ME |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 71 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.