Compare towns
Readfield vs Vinalhaven vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Vinalhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% 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.
| Measure | Readfield | Vinalhaven | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651Highest |
1,216Lowest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
47.2±8.4Lowest 5% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pownal 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 ME: 22.4% |
50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% ME: 36.2% |
45.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pownal and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average |
$104,333±$14kHighest 40% above ME |
| Pownal and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$428,400±$44k 44% above ME |
$436,800±$32kHighest 47% above ME |
| Pownal and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$1,017±$924 11% below ME |
$981±$636Lowest 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392Lowest 12% above ME |
$3,598 19% above ME |
$5,212Highest 72% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.6%±41.5 ME: 48.4% |
78.9%±22.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Vinalhaven 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Pownal 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 05 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.