Compare towns
Winthrop vs Smithfield 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%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Smithfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
856Lowest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3Lowest about the ME average |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
| Smithfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Wayne 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% |
34.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 16% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Smithfield 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±$41k about the ME average |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| 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 22% below ME |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
30 minLowest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.