Compare towns
Winthrop vs Hampden 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 homeowners (92.5%).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Hampden | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191 |
7,896Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Winthrop 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Hampden 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 |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Hampden 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 |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Hampden 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 |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Hampden 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 |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Wayne 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Lowest 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 22 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.