Compare towns
Whitefield vs Wayne vs Alna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Whitefield | Wayne | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,157Highest |
1,101 |
818Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.2 16% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
| Wayne and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$24kLowest 18% below ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Alna and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$126Lowest 21% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME |
| Alna and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 13.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 38 | — |
| 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.