Compare towns
Wayne vs Waldo vs Union vs Bremen
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%).
Waldo has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Bremen has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Waldo | Union | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
926 |
2,663Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
52.1±8.2 16% above ME |
| Wayne and Bremen 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% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.1%±9.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bremen 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% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
54.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Union 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 25% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$100,000±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
| Bremen 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±$29k 22% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$425,300±$28kHighest 43% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,829 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Wayne 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% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 38 | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.