What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

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	Rochester	Readfield
People
Population	33,144Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S.	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.
	Readfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Readfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rochester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average	$86,504±$8kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Readfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.	$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Rochester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Highest 71% above U.S.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rochester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Rochester School District	RSU 38
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.