Compare towns
Manchester vs Raymond 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).
Raymond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Readfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Raymond | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,424Lowest |
4,610Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME |
47.3±4.1 6% above ME |
48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
| Readfield and Raymond 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% |
19.1%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Raymond and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Manchester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Raymond and Readfield 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 |
$88,194±$20k 18% above ME |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
| Manchester and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,600±$40kLowest about the ME average |
$395,800±$42kHighest 33% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $993±$116 13% below ME |
$965±$397Lowest 15% 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 | $3,486Highest 15% above ME |
$3,139Lowest 3% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.3%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Raymond 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% |
5.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 19% below ME |
37 minHighest 50% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.3%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Raymond 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 | — | #112 of 133 in ME | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | RSU 14 | 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 |
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.