Compare towns
Wayne vs Gorham vs Islesboro
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%).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
18,300Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
57±8.4Highest 27% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
| Gorham 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±$29k 22% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME |
| Gorham and Wayne 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,300 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Islesboro 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Islesboro 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Gorham Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.