Compare towns

Hope vs Readfield vs Rye

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%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.

MeasureHopeReadfieldRye
People
Population
1,748Lowest
2,651
5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
48.1±7.6
24% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Rye and Readfield 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%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hope and Readfield 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%
22.3%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Readfield and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,766±$6k
7% above U.S.
$86,504±$8kLowest
7% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
$326,400±$20kLowest
about the U.S. average
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,219±$182
14% below U.S.
$1,125±$844Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,842
23% above U.S.
$3,392Lowest
9% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±38.7
U.S.: 51.1%
31.3%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and Hope 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%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±10.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.3%±14.9
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 — #20 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH
School district Hope Public Schools RSU 38 Rye School District
High school in town None in town Maranacook Community High Sch None in town
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.