Compare towns
Belgrade vs Casco vs Dedham vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Casco has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Readfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Casco | Dedham | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
3,696Highest |
1,656Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
52±3.3Highest 16% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
| Casco and Readfield 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% |
11.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
26.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Casco and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% ME: 36.2% |
32.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$69,313±$19kLowest 7% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$355,500±$58k 20% above ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
| Dedham and Casco 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 |
$1,395±$184 22% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,085 about the ME average |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
39.7%±35.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Casco and Readfield 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% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.6%±10Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Casco and Readfield 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 | — | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.