Compare towns
Readfield vs Needham vs Mount Vernon
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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Mount Vernon has the most affordable homes ($264k 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 | Needham | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
32,459Highest |
1,716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.1±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Mount Vernon 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Mount Vernon 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Vernon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$8k 7% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$74,395±$6kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$264,200±$23kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$893±$168Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±36.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Mount Vernon 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | 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.