Compare towns
Wayne vs Mercer vs Winthrop
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Mercer | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
718Lowest |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Mercer 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% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Mercer and Wayne 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 |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.