Compare towns
Winthrop vs Gorham vs Wayne vs Readfield
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 affordable homes ($295k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Wayne | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,191 |
18,300Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
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 | 22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±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+ | 40%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3% 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% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Gorham and Readfield 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 | #12 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | Gorham High School | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.9Highest |
— | 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.