Compare towns
Readfield vs Bristol vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Bristol | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651Lowest |
2,917 |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
61±3.2Highest 36% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
42.8%±8.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Readfield 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 16% above ME |
$100,750±$19kHighest 35% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
| Bristol and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$406,400±$54kHighest 37% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$1,051±$106 8% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Readfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$2,668Lowest 12% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±19.2 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
25%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Bristol Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.