Compare towns
Wayne vs Bow vs Bremen vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Bremen has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Bow | Bremen | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
8,335Highest |
917Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.1±8.2 34% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.1%±9.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Bow 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 15% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$100,000±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$425,300±$28k 28% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 5% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$2,829Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Bow School District | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.