Compare towns
Winthrop vs Northfield vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Northfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
5,920 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 12% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Winthrop and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4k 7% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$41k 11% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Highest 28% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,506 12% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.