Compare towns
Belgrade vs Epping vs Rome vs Smithfield
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).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Epping | Rome | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
7,430Highest |
1,215 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.3±9.2 24% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Rome 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Rome 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Rome 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$77,639±$25kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$107,917±$27kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$329,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$242,800±$15kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,150±$56 19% below U.S. |
$1,109±$358 22% below U.S. |
| Epping and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,866 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±59.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Rome 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Smithfield 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Epping School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.