Compare towns
Readfield vs Lancaster vs Fayette
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
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 | Lancaster | Fayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
8,606Highest |
1,383Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58.8±4.2Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Fayette 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Readfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$59,500±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$257,600±$48kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$983±$816Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,160Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±43.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Fayette 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Nashoba | Fayette Public Schools |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | 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 |
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.