What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Castine
People
Population	1,101Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wayne and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 25% above ME	$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME
	Castine and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kLowest 22% above ME	$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME	$1,105±$104Highest about the ME average
	Castine 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	$4,250Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4%
	Castine and Wayne 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%	14.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 24% above ME	14 minLowest 42% below ME
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	Castine Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.