Compare towns
Readfield vs Northbridge vs Manchester
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 people working from home (24.3%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Northbridge | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
16,458Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Manchester 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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±$20k about the U.S. average |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$993±$116Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Northbridge | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.