Compare towns
Readfield vs Sturbridge vs Wayne vs Belgrade
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 housing (typical home built 1979).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 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 | Sturbridge | Wayne | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,651 |
9,960Highest |
1,101Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 38 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.