Compare towns
Belgrade vs Freeport 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 the most homeowners (93.8%).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Freeport | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
8,802Highest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Freeport 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 |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
| Freeport and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 6% below ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
27 minHighest 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.