Compare towns
Belgrade vs Oakland vs Wayne
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%).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Oakland | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
6,309Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Belgrade 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% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 18% above ME |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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 5% above ME |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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 |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne and Oakland 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 |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Wayne 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 18 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.