Compare towns
Belgrade vs Dedham vs Springfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Highest |
1,656 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Dedham 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. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Springfield 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.