Compare towns

Wayne vs Phippsburg 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%).
Phippsburg has the highest household income ($108k).
Islesboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).

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.

MeasureWaynePhippsburgIslesboro
People
Population
1,101
2,238Highest
636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.6±5.3
24% above ME
54.3±6.3Lowest
21% 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%±3.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
11.5%±3.1
ME: 18.1%
11.2%±6.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Wayne and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±3.8Lowest
ME: 22.4%
34.4%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
40.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Islesboro and Phippsburg 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%
37.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
47.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±1.6
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne and Phippsburg 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
$107,833±$19kHighest
44% above ME
$88,438±$44kLowest
18% above ME
Phippsburg 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±$29kHighest
22% above ME
$335,800±$47k
13% above ME
$288,800±$140kLowest
about the ME average
Wayne and Phippsburg 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
$1,022±$346Highest
10% below ME
$938±$252Lowest
18% below ME
Phippsburg 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
$2,034Lowest
33% below ME
$4,300Highest
42% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
35.5%±98.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
30.8%±85.4
ME: 48.4%
Phippsburg 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%
7.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
15.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
81.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
24% above ME
21 min
13% below ME
8 minLowest
69% below ME
Work from home
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.3%±8.8
ME: 15.9%
Wayne and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 38 RSU 01 - LKRSU —
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.