Compare towns
Readfield vs Hooksett vs Wayne vs Belgrade
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Hooksett | Wayne | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
15,057Highest |
1,101Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wayne 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wayne 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 |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wayne 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. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Hooksett School District | RSU 38 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.