Compare towns
Wayne vs Ellsworth 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).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Ellsworth | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
8,657Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below 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% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Ellsworth 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 |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| 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 22% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| 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 14% below ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
| Readfield and Ellsworth 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 |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Readfield 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% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.