Compare towns
Readfield vs Rye vs Pownal
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 affordable homes ($326k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Pownal has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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.
| Measure | Readfield | Rye | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
5,611Highest |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Readfield 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pownal 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14k 29% above U.S. |
| Rye and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Rye School District | RSU 05 |
| 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.