Compare towns
Belgrade vs Dedham vs Mapleton vs Strong
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%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Dedham | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351Highest |
1,656 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong 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 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest 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%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Strong 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% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Mapleton 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton 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 |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108 25% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Dedham and Strong 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Strong and Belgrade 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Strong 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.