What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Readfield	Penobscot
People
Population	2,651Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Readfield and Penobscot 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%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Readfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME	$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average
	Readfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest about the ME average	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Highest 12% above ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979 2 yrs newer than ME	1979 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 20% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Readfield and Penobscot 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	—
School district	RSU 38	Penobscot Public Schools
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

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.