What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most expensive homes ($326k median).

Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Readfield	Barton
People
Population	2,651Highest	730Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Readfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Barton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Readfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.	$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Highest 20% below U.S.	$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S.
	Readfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Highest 9% above U.S.	$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.5%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Barton 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	#38 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 38	—
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.