Compare towns
Readfield vs Manchester vs Wayne
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 affordable homes ($326k median).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Manchester | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
115,643Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Manchester 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. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Manchester 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. |
$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below 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 | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$5,922Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.