Compare towns

Wayne vs Mapleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureWayneMapletonSouth Thomaston
People
Population
1,101Lowest
1,884Highest
1,381
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.8%±3.7
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and South Thomaston 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%
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%
34.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
44.6%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.5%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Lowest
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
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$86,838±$7kLowest
16% above ME
Wayne and Mapleton 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
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$341,300±$37k
15% above ME
Wayne and South Thomaston 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
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$925±$633
19% below ME
Wayne and South Thomaston 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
$3,442Highest
13% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±52.1
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
63.6%±43.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
South Thomaston and Wayne 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%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
24% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
16 minLowest
36% below ME
Work from home
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
8.3%±4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Wayne and Mapleton 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 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.