Compare towns
Readfield vs Bow vs Wayne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Bow | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
8,335Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Bow School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.