Compare towns
Belgrade vs Castleton vs Sidney vs Rome
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 people working from home (20.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Sidney | Rome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
4,453 |
4,790Highest |
1,215Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
48.3±9.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Rome and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±9.1Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1% 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% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$77,639±$25k 4% below U.S. |
| 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 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$329,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| 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 39% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,150±$56 19% below U.S. |
| 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 8% below U.S. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±59.8 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.