Compare towns
Readfield vs Whiting vs Fayette
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 highest household income ($87k).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
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 | Whiting | Fayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651Highest |
506Lowest |
1,383 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
50±5 12% above ME |
58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME |
| Fayette and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield and Whiting 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% |
27.5%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Fayette and Whiting 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Readfield and Whiting 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 |
$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME |
$59,500±$17k 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$214,200±$52kLowest 28% below ME |
$257,600±$48k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
$983±$816 14% below ME |
| Readfield and Fayette 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 |
$1,728Lowest 43% below ME |
$3,160 4% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Fayette and Whiting 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% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.1%±7.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Fayette 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 | Whiting Public Schools | Fayette Public Schools |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | 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.