Compare towns

Readfield vs Sutton vs Lancaster

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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).

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.

MeasureReadfieldSuttonLancaster
People
Population
2,651Lowest
9,452Highest
8,606
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.1±7.6Highest
24% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
Readfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Lancaster 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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Readfield and Lancaster 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%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton 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.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster 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
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$844Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,392Lowest
9% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Sutton 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%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
24.3%±14.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster 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 #105 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA
School district RSU 38 Sutton Nashoba
High school in town Maranacook Community High Sch Sutton High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5Lowest
12.6Highest
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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.