Compare towns
Belgrade vs Freeport vs Readfield vs Wayne
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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Readfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
8,802Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Freeport 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%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Freeport 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% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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 |
$86,504±$8kLowest 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Freeport and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Freeport and Readfield 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 |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Readfield 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% |
5% ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.