Compare towns
Manchester vs Mapleton vs Winthrop vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Winthrop has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Readfield has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Manchester | Mapleton | Winthrop | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,424 |
1,884Lowest |
6,191Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6 5% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
| Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Winthrop and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Manchester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,600±$40k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
| Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $993±$116 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$892±$319 22% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
| Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,486 15% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop 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 ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Winthrop 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 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.