Compare towns

Readfield vs Douglas vs Pownal

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).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% 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.

MeasureReadfieldDouglasPownal
People
Population
2,651
9,207Highest
1,696Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±7.6Highest
24% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
47.2±8.4
21% above U.S.
Readfield and Pownal 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%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pownal and Douglas 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%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pownal 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Pownal 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.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$104,333±$14k
29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$326,400±$20kLowest
about the U.S. average
$470,600±$29kHighest
41% above U.S.
$436,800±$32k
31% above U.S.
Douglas and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$844
20% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$981±$636Lowest
31% below U.S.
Douglas and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,392Lowest
9% above U.S.
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$5,212
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
78.9%±22.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
24.3%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.9%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Readfield and Pownal 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 #177 of 282 in MA —
School district RSU 38 Douglas RSU 05
High school in town Maranacook Community High Sch Douglas High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Highest
7.2Lowest
—
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.