Compare towns
Belgrade vs Jay vs Wilton
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%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Wilton has the most renters (20.2% 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 | Jay | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
4,657Highest |
3,862 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
| Belgrade and Wilton 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% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Wilton 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$63,396±$23kLowest 15% below ME |
| Belgrade and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$202,000±$30k 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Highest 25% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$446±$274Lowest 61% below ME |
| Belgrade and Jay 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 |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,344 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wilton and Jay 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Wilton 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #121 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 73 | RSU 09 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.