Compare towns
Wayne vs Castine vs Winthrop
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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.
| Measure | Wayne | Castine | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
1,362 |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Wayne 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% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
74.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME |
$86,470±$4kLowest 16% 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±$29k 22% above ME |
$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME |
$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,105±$104Highest about the ME average |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| 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 |
$3,506 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.3%±56Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Castine and Winthrop 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% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
14 minLowest 42% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Castine Public Schools | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.