What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).

Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Harvard
People
Population	2,651Lowest	6,927Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Readfield and Harvard 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%	21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Harvard 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 U.S.: 17.2%	16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Harvard 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%	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Harvard 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.	$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,321±$424Highest 7% below U.S.
	Harvard 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Harvard 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%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Harvard 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	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 38	Harvard
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.