Compare towns
Belgrade vs Douglas vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
2,651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Readfield 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% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Douglas 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 9% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton 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. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Douglas 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. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton 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. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Sutton 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Douglas | Sutton | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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.