Compare towns
Wayne vs Stow
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 highest household income ($93k).
Stow has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
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 | Stow |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,101Highest |
535Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Lowest 24% above ME |
57±10.5Highest 27% above ME |
| Stow and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Wayne 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% |
37.9%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Stow 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% |
33.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Stow 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 |
$42,204±$22kLowest 44% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$326,400±$42kLowest 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Stow 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,304Highest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wayne and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 24% above ME |
51 minHighest 109% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±12Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | RSU 38 | — |
| High school 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.