Compare towns
Wayne vs Hope vs Danforth vs South Thomaston
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%).
Hope has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
South Thomaston has the shortest commute (16 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 | Hope | Danforth | South Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,748Highest |
452Lowest |
1,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
54.3±11.3 21% above ME |
| Wayne and South Thomaston 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Thomaston 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% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
9%±9.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| South Thomaston 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±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$86,838±$7k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and South Thomaston 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$341,300±$37k 15% above ME |
| Hope and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$925±$633 19% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
— | $3,442 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
63.6%±43.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Thomaston and Hope 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% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
16 minLowest 36% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 38 | Hope Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.