What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Buckfield
People
Population	1,101Lowest	2,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME	37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME	$77,917±$41kLowest 4% above ME
	Wayne and Buckfield 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	$227,700±$18kLowest 23% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME	$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Highest 8% above ME	$2,860Lowest 6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 24% above ME	31 minHighest 25% above ME
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%	15.6%±12.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	RSU 10
High school in town	None in town	Buckfield Jr-Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.