What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most homeowners (89.9%).

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Manchester
People
Population	2,651Lowest	115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	38±1Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Manchester 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%	15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.	$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average
	Readfield 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±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S.
	Manchester 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.	$5,922Highest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Manchester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Manchester 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	#115 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 38	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 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.