Compare towns
Wayne vs Windham vs Chapman vs Readfield
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).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Readfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Windham | Chapman | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101 |
19,188Highest |
388Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | 0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Chapman 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% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Chapman 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
| Windham 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 |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
— | $1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Windham and Readfield 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 |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Windham 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 ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 24% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 14 | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| 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.