What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Readfield has the most homeowners (89.9%).

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	Manchester	Readfield
People
Population	115,643Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38±1Lowest about the U.S. average	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S.	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Manchester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,922Highest 90% above U.S.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Manchester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Manchester 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	#115 of 120 in NH	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District	RSU 38
High school in town	Manchester Memorial High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	6 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.