Compare towns
Belgrade vs Mapleton vs Rochester vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Rochester | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,884Lowest |
33,144Highest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Readfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Readfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Mapleton 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 9% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 6% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Readfield and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108 39% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rochester School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.