Compare towns
Wayne vs Dover vs Islesboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most renters (10.1% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 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.
| Measure | Wayne | Dover | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
5,930Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57±8.4Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Islesboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Dover and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,300 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Islesboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Wayne 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.