What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belgrade has the highest household income ($88k).

Fayette has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belgrade	Fayette
People
Population	3,351Highest	1,383Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME	58.8±4.2Highest 31% above ME
	Fayette 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 ME: 18.1%	15.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Belgrade and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	37.2%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%	2.8%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Belgrade and Fayette 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	$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME
	Belgrade and Fayette 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	$257,600±$48kLowest 13% below ME
	Belgrade and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME	$983±$816Highest 14% below ME
	Fayette and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,859Lowest 6% below ME	$3,160Highest 4% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Fayette 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 ME: 10.7%	7.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 7% below ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	20.4%±8.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.1%±7.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Fayette and Belgrade 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	Fayette Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.