Compare towns
Belgrade vs Chesterville vs Jay
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%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Belgrade | Chesterville | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,397Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
| Belgrade and Jay 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% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Jay 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% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Jay 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 |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Belgrade and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108 25% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Jay and Chesterville 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% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 133 in ME | — | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.