Compare towns
Winthrop vs Salisbury 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 the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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.
| Measure | Winthrop | Salisbury | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
1,609 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Winthrop and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 11% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Wayne 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. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Salisbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.