Compare towns
Belfast vs Ogunquit vs Rye vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the most renters (31.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
Waldo has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Belfast | Ogunquit | Rye | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,986Highest |
1,379 |
5,611 |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1 56% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$208,000±$41kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Rye and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 33% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 71 | — | Rye School District | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.