What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Harvard	Readfield
People
Population	6,927Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S.	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.
	Readfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Harvard and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Harvard and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S.	$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Harvard and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Harvard and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Harvard 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	#12 of 282 in MA	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Harvard	RSU 38
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	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.