Compare towns
Epsom vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epsom has the most renters (12.4% rent).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Epsom | Readfield | Wayne | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,939Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.4 21% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.2%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epsom School District | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.