Compare towns
Wayne vs Mapleton vs Pownal 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pownal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Pownal | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,884Highest |
1,696 |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.2±8.4 5% above 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Pownal and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49%Highest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$104,333±$14kHighest 40% above ME |
$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
| Pownal 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$436,800±$32kHighest 47% above ME |
$288,800±$140k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$981±$636 14% below ME |
$938±$252 18% below ME |
| Wayne and Pownal 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$5,212Highest 72% above ME |
$4,300 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
20.3%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 05 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.