Compare towns
Winthrop vs Oakland 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Oakland | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,191 |
6,309Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
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%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland 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% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24.4%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% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Wayne 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 |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 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 |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | Messalonskee High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
14.2Highest |
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.