Compare towns

Readfield vs Keene 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 most people working from home (24.3%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureReadfieldKeeneBelgrade
People
Population
2,651Lowest
22,939Highest
3,351
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±7.6Highest
24% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
47.3±14.6
22% above U.S.
Readfield and Belgrade 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%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
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%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Belgrade 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%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,504±$8k
7% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$88,338±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
Belgrade 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±$20kHighest
about the U.S. average
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$312,200±$44k
6% below U.S.
Readfield and Belgrade 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.
$1,342±$68Highest
5% below U.S.
$857±$108Lowest
39% below U.S.
Keene 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.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$2,859Lowest
8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.2%±35.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Keene 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%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
24.3%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Readfield and Belgrade 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 #81 of 120 in NH #71 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 38 Keene School District RSU 18
High school in town Maranacook Community High Sch Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
12.3Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.