Compare towns
Belgrade vs Appleton vs Sidney vs Rome
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Sidney has the youngest population (median age 43).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Belgrade | Appleton | Sidney | Rome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,360 |
4,790Highest |
1,215Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
| Sidney and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,150±$56 about the ME average |
| Sidney and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 6% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Sidney 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.