Compare towns
Winthrop vs West Gardiner 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 the most kids (22.9% under 18).
West Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | West Gardiner | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,191Highest |
3,696 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
43.5±2.8Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and West Gardiner 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% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
32.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Wayne 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 |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and West Gardiner 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 |
$1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5Lowest 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 | #90 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | 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 |
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.