Compare towns
Belgrade vs Methuen 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).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
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 | Methuen | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
53,475Highest |
2,651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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 9% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 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. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Methuen | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.