Compare towns

Dedham vs Unity 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

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

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.

MeasureDedhamUnityReadfield
People
Population
1,656
1,375Lowest
2,651Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.5±2.2Lowest
20% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
48.1±7.6
24% above U.S.
Unity and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,442±$18kHighest
38% above U.S.
$87,500±$16k
8% above U.S.
$86,504±$8kLowest
7% above U.S.
Dedham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,400±$33kHighest
7% above U.S.
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below U.S.
$326,400±$20k
about the U.S. average
Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,422±$607
about the U.S. average
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,125±$844Lowest
20% below U.S.
Unity and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,942
26% above U.S.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$3,392Lowest
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13%±85.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.3%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Unity and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
9.3%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
24.3%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Readfield and Unity 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 — — #20 of 133 in ME
School district Dedham Public Schools Unity School District RSU 38
High school in town None in town None in town Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.5
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.