Compare towns
Winthrop vs Sidney vs Wayne vs Durham
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).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Sidney | Wayne | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
4,790 |
1,101Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Durham 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 |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Durham 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 |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
| Wayne and Sidney 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 |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
— |
| Sidney 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 |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 38 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | None in town | 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 | 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.