Compare towns
Wayne vs Dedham vs Readfield
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).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Dedham | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
1,656 |
2,651Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
0%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Readfield 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% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Dedham 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 25% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
| Dedham 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±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Readfield 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.