What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Sutton	Readfield
People
Population	9,452Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.
	Readfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.	$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sutton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 min 12% above U.S.	30 min 12% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield and Sutton 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	#105 of 282 in MA	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Sutton	RSU 38
High school in town	Sutton High School	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.5Lowest
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.