What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most homeowners (89.9%).

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Hallowell
People
Population	1,101Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME	50.3±7.9Lowest 12% above ME
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hallowell 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	52.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	6.4%±6.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Wayne and Hallowell 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	$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME
	Wayne and Hallowell 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	$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME
	Wayne and Hallowell 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	$3,867Highest 27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Hallowell and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 24% above ME	14 minLowest 43% below ME
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%	19.8%±8.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	RSU 02
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.