Compare towns

Winthrop vs Eliot 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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.

MeasureWinthropEliotWayne
People
Population
6,191
7,146Highest
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
ME: +2.6%
+8.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.6±5.3Lowest
about the ME average
50.8±5.9
13% above ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
Wayne and Eliot 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%
16.3%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Winthrop and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
27.8%±6.2
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Wayne and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
43.6%
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
2%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne and Winthrop 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
$101,522±$10kHighest
36% above ME
$93,194±$26k
25% above ME
Eliot 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
$498,900±$62kHighest
68% above ME
$362,800±$29k
22% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$892±$319Lowest
22% below ME
$1,948±$471Highest
71% above ME
$983±$554
14% below ME
Eliot and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,506
15% above ME
$4,549Highest
50% above ME
$3,289Lowest
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±22.4
ME: 48.4%
55.1%±20.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Eliot and Winthrop 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%
4.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
79.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
41% above ME
23 minLowest
9% below ME
30 min
24% above ME
Work from home
23.1%±6.7
ME: 15.9%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
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 #12 of 133 in ME #19 of 133 in ME —
School district Winthrop Public Schools RSU 35/MSAD 35 RSU 38
High school in town Winthrop High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.