What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Readfield
People
Population	2,537Lowest	2,651Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	48.1±7.6Lowest 24% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Readfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Readfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average
	Readfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	RSU 38
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.