Compare towns
Readfield vs Meredith 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 most kids (18.7% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Fayette has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
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 | Meredith | Fayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
6,758Highest |
1,383Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
58.8±4.2Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Fayette and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fayette and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Readfield and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$59,500±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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±$20k about the U.S. average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$257,600±$48kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$983±$816Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,160Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±43.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Fayette 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Fayette Public Schools |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.