Compare towns
Wayne vs Windham vs Union vs Winthrop
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Winthrop has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Union | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
19,188Highest |
2,663 |
6,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 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% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Windham 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 |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 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 |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| Windham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Windham and Union 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 |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,506 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 24% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 14 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 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.