Compare towns
Wayne vs Salisbury vs Islesboro
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 most people working from home (26.2%).
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
1,609Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
57±8.4Highest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$88,438±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 9% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$288,800±$140kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$938±$252Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Wayne 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,300 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±85.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Islesboro and Wayne 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% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
8 minLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 38 | Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.