Compare towns
Rockport vs Nelson vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
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 | Rockport | Nelson | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,675Highest |
648Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±3.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Rockport and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,979±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,000±$50kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$667 15% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,764Highest 85% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±42.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockport and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | #8 of 133 in ME | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Nelson School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Camden Hills Regional H S | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.