Compare towns
Readfield vs Ossipee 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%).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Ossipee | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
4,521Highest |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Readfield 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Manchester 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Readfield and Ossipee 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. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$299,600±$40kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Readfield and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$993±$116Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Manchester 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 |
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.