Compare towns
Winthrop vs Buxton vs Readfield vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Buxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Readfield has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Winthrop | Buxton | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,191 |
8,512Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% 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 | 22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest 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+ | 40% ME: 36.2% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
$100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Buxton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
$356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Buxton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$3,422 13% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.