Compare towns

Bowdoinham vs Sutton vs Readfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoinham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

MeasureBowdoinhamSuttonReadfield
People
Population
3,142
9,452Highest
2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.9±13.1Highest
33% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.1±7.6
24% above U.S.
Bowdoinham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±6.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±6.7
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Readfield and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.7%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,479±$21k
34% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$86,504±$8kLowest
7% above U.S.
Sutton and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$405,500±$105k
22% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$326,400±$20kLowest
about the U.S. average
Sutton and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,190±$401Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,125±$844Lowest
20% below U.S.
Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,958Lowest
5% below U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,392
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
31.3%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
13.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
22%±11.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
24.3%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Readfield and Sutton 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 #73 of 133 in ME #105 of 282 in MA #20 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 Sutton RSU 38
High school in town None in town Sutton High School Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Highest
11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 12 photos → 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.