Compare towns
Readfield vs Epping vs Manchester
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 homeowners (89.9%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Epping | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
7,430Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Manchester 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 7% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Epping and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$993±$116Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Epping School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.