Compare towns
Belfast vs Kennebunk vs Mapleton vs Searsport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Belfast | Kennebunk | Mapleton | Searsport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,986 |
11,820Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,655 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.9±7.2 4% below ME |
| Belfast and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.7%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$64,303±$19kLowest 14% below ME |
| Kennebunk and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$224,400±$78k 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92 16% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,105±$87 about the ME average |
| Kennebunk and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 37% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,225 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.2%±25.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Searsport and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
69.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±9.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Searsport 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #109 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 71 | RSU 21 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 20 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town | Searsport District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.6Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.