What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Readfield	Mansfield
People
Population	2,651Lowest	23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Readfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield and Readfield 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%	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Readfield 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.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
	Mansfield 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.	$7,226Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mansfield and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 38	Mansfield
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.