Compare towns
Wayne vs Unity vs Winthrop vs Leeds
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Winthrop has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Leeds has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Winthrop | Leeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
1,858 |
6,191Highest |
2,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
38.2±8.3 15% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
30.6%±9.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Leeds and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
14.8%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
23% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.4%±3.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$85,208±$14k 14% above ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$257,800±$27k 13% below ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$892±$319 22% below ME |
$940±$461 17% below ME |
| Wayne and Leeds 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 |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$2,565 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.1%±11.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 52/MSAD 52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Winthrop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.