Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Readfield 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
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Bethlehem | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
2,651Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Bethlehem 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% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield 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±$20k about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield 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±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Wayne 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 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.