Compare towns

Wayne vs Cornish vs South Thomaston

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%).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
South Thomaston has the shortest commute (16 min average).

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.

MeasureWayneCornishSouth Thomaston
People
Population
1,101Lowest
1,803Highest
1,381
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
39±8.5Lowest
13% below ME
54.3±11.3
21% above ME
Wayne and South Thomaston 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%
18.2%±3.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.8%±3.7
ME: 18.1%
Cornish and South Thomaston 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%
17.4%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
34.8%±8.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
South Thomaston 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.6%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.5%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
9%±9.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
South Thomaston and Wayne 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
$69,038±$4kLowest
8% below ME
$86,838±$7k
16% above ME
Wayne and South Thomaston 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
$274,200±$84kLowest
8% below ME
$341,300±$37k
15% above ME
Wayne and South Thomaston 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
$1,196±$148Highest
5% above ME
$925±$633Lowest
19% below ME
Cornish and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,289
8% above ME
$2,309Lowest
24% below ME
$3,442Highest
13% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
48.8%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
63.6%±43.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
South Thomaston and Cornish 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%
6.3%
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
82.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
24% above ME
31 minHighest
27% above ME
16 minLowest
36% below ME
Work from home
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.5%±2.4
ME: 15.9%
8.3%±4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district RSU 38 — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.