Compare towns
Hope vs Lancaster 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
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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.
| Measure | Hope | Lancaster | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Readfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Hope 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | White Mountains Regional 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.