Compare towns
Wayne vs Stratham vs Readfield
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Stratham | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
7,754Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Readfield 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Readfield 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.