Compare towns
Wayne vs Effingham vs Readfield
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Readfield has the shortest commute (30 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 | Effingham | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
1,912 |
2,651Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 15% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Readfield and Effingham 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 |
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.