What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Westminster has the shortest commute (24 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.

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

Measure	Readfield	Westminster
People
Population	2,651Lowest	2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Lowest 24% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
	Westminster and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster 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%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster 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±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Readfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Highest 20% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
	Readfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.	$4,063Highest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 38	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.