What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Stoddard
People
Population	1,101Highest	1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	53±4Lowest 36% above U.S.
	Wayne and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stoddard 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 U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wayne and Stoddard 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%	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wayne and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Stoddard 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 9% above U.S.	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
	Wayne and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Highest 30% below U.S.	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Wayne and Stoddard 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.	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	RSU 38	Stoddard School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.