Compare towns
Belgrade vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Readfield has the most renters (10.1% 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 | Middlesex | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Readfield and Belgrade 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.