What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	2,651Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Readfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Rochester 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%	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester 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±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average
	Readfield and Rochester 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	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.
	Rochester 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.	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 38	Rochester School District
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.