Compare towns
Readfield vs Salem vs Mount Vernon
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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Mount Vernon has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
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 | Salem | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
44,795Highest |
1,716Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Mount Vernon 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mount Vernon and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Vernon and Readfield 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% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$74,395±$6kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Readfield and Salem 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$264,200±$23kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$893±$168Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±36.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Vernon 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Salem | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.