Compare towns
Wayne vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Lowell | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
118,368Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell 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 15% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Readfield 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. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Readfield 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Lowell | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.