Compare towns
Belgrade vs Castleton vs Rome vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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 | Castleton | Rome | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
4,453Highest |
1,215Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±9.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Rome and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rome 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$77,639±$25k 4% below U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$329,300±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rome and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$56Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Rome and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,392Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±59.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Belgrade 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | RSU 38 |
| High school 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 |
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.