Compare towns
Wayne vs Standish 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%).
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Standish | Islesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
10,662Highest |
636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Standish 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 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
36%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
$88,438±$44kLowest 18% above ME |
| Standish 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 |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$288,800±$140kLowest about the ME average |
| Wayne and Standish 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 |
$983±$453Highest 14% below ME |
$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 8% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
$4,300Highest 42% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.8%±85.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
8 minLowest 69% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.