Compare towns
Belgrade vs Exeter vs Oakland
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Oakland has the most renters (22.4% rent).
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 | Exeter | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,093Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
| Belgrade and Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Exeter and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Exeter 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.