Compare towns
Readfield vs Rye vs Wayne 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
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Rye | Wayne | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
5,611Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Rye 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester 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% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$92,031±$16k 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$299,600±$40kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$993±$116 30% 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 | $3,392 9% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Wayne 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 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.