Compare towns
Belgrade vs Ellsworth vs Mapleton vs Holden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Holden has the most homeowners (95%).
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 | Ellsworth | Mapleton | Holden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
8,657Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45±4.6 about the ME average |
| Belgrade and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.5%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Mapleton 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% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.1%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Ellsworth 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% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Ellsworth 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 |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$92,200±$35kHighest 23% above ME |
| Holden 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±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$289,400±$70k about the ME average |
| Belgrade and Holden 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 |
$1,017±$195Highest 11% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Ellsworth and Belgrade 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 |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,221 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.8%±30.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Holden 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% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Holden 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | — | #61 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 63/MSAD 63 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.