What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Dedham
People
Population	2,651Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME	46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME
	Readfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dedham 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 ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Readfield and Dedham 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 ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2 ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
	Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME	$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME
	Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest about the ME average	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Lowest 12% above ME	$3,942Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Readfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 20% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Readfield and Dedham 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	—
School district	RSU 38	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.