Compare towns
Wayne vs Sumner vs South Thomaston
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%).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
South Thomaston has the shortest commute (16 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 | Sumner | South Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,101 |
845Lowest |
1,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
54.3±11.3Lowest 21% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.8%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and South Thomaston 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% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| South Thomaston and Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9%±9.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| South Thomaston 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$86,838±$7k 16% above ME |
| Wayne and South Thomaston 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$341,300±$37k 15% above ME |
| Wayne and South Thomaston 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 |
— | $925±$633Lowest 19% below ME |
| Wayne and South Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 8% above ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$3,442Highest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
63.6%±43.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and South Thomaston 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
16 minLowest 36% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
8.3%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.