What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

Searsmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Searsmont
People
Population	1,101Lowest	1,646Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME	44.5±9.8Lowest about the ME average
	Wayne and Searsmont 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%	13.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Searsmont and Wayne 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%	21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Searsmont 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	$87,000±$20kLowest 16% above ME
	Wayne and Searsmont 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	$284,000±$31kLowest 4% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Highest 14% below ME	$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME
	Wayne and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Highest 8% above ME	$2,788Lowest 8% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Searsmont and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 24% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	RSU 71
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.