Compare towns
Readfield vs Ogunquit vs Belgrade vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Belgrade | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,379Lowest |
3,351Highest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
46.9±4.6Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Ogunquit 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 16% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$92,031±$16k 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 10% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$299,600±$40kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
— | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$993±$116 13% below ME |
| Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 12% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,486 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
85%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | — | RSU 18 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.