What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Readfield	Thorndike
People
Population	2,651Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Readfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Readfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME	$78,438±$14kLowest 5% above ME
	Readfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
	Readfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Highest 12% above ME	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Thorndike and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 20% above ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike 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	—
School district	RSU 38	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.