Compare towns
Belfast vs Rye vs Searsport
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 oldest population (median age 60.6).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Searsport has the most affordable homes ($224k 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 | Rye | Searsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,986Highest |
5,611 |
2,655Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
42.9±7.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Belfast and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Searsport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belfast and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsport 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±$9k 16% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$64,303±$19kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34k about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$224,400±$78kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,105±$87 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145 33% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$2,225Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±25.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #109 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 71 | Rye School District | RSU 20 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | None in town | Searsport District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 8.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.