What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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	New Gloucester	Reading
People
Population	5,766Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Reading and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	New Gloucester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	New Gloucester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S.	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.
	New Gloucester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S.	$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Reading and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$249Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.
	New Gloucester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S.	$5,754Highest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading and New Gloucester 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	#65 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 15/MSAD 15	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.