Compare towns

Belgrade vs Mount Vernon vs Smithfield

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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Mount Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).

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.

MeasureBelgradeMount VernonSmithfield
People
Population
3,351Highest
1,716
856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
ME: +2.6%
+4.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-10.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
47.3±14.6
6% above ME
47.1±6.2Lowest
5% above ME
55.8±3.5Highest
25% above ME
Smithfield 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
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±5.2
ME: 18.1%
10%±3.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Belgrade and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.9%±6.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.5%±1.5
ME: 22.4%
29.7%±3.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Smithfield and Mount Vernon 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%
42.3%
ME: 36.2%
34.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.6%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade and Smithfield 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
$74,395±$6kLowest
about the ME average
$107,917±$27kHighest
44% above ME
Smithfield 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±$44kHighest
5% above ME
$264,200±$23k
11% below ME
$242,800±$15kLowest
18% below ME
Belgrade and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$857±$108Lowest
25% below ME
$893±$168
22% below ME
$1,109±$358Highest
about the ME average
Smithfield and Mount Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,859
6% below ME
$2,832Lowest
7% below ME
$2,866Highest
6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.2%±35.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
26.9%±36.9
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±45.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Smithfield and Mount Vernon 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%
4.8%
ME: 10.7%
5.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
89.8%
ME: 74.3%
88.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
7% below ME
32 min
29% above ME
33 minHighest
32% above ME
Work from home
20.4%±8.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
28.3%±11.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
22%±7.2
ME: 15.9%
Mount Vernon and Smithfield 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 — —
School district RSU 18 RSU 38 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.