Compare towns
Wayne vs Belfast vs Readfield
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%).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Belfast | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
6,986Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Belfast and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Belfast 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% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Belfast 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 |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
| Readfield 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 |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 71 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.