Compare towns

Belgrade vs Ogunquit vs Rome 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k median).

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.

MeasureBelgradeOgunquitRomeSmithfield
People
Population
3,351Highest
1,379
1,215
856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+13.7%
ME: +2.6%
-10.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
47.3±14.6Lowest
6% above ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
48.3±9.2
8% above ME
55.8±3.5
25% above ME
Ogunquit and Smithfield 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%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
21.4%±6.3
ME: 18.1%
10%±3.5
ME: 18.1%
Belgrade and Rome 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
24.7%±9.1
ME: 22.4%
29.7%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.1%
ME: 36.2%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
39.1%
ME: 36.2%
34.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±4.8
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade and Rome 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
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$77,639±$25kLowest
4% above ME
$107,917±$27k
44% above ME
Ogunquit and Smithfield 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
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$329,300±$36k
11% above ME
$242,800±$15kLowest
18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$857±$108Lowest
25% below ME
—
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
$1,109±$358
about the ME average
Rome and Smithfield 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
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$1,829Lowest
40% below ME
$2,866
6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.2%±35.9
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
54.2%±59.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±45.2
ME: 48.4%
Rome and Smithfield 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%
3.2%
ME: 10.7%
10.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.8%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
91.9%
ME: 74.3%
88.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
7% below ME
26 min
7% above ME
30 min
21% above ME
33 minHighest
32% above ME
Work from home
20.4%±8.6
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
7.4%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
22%±7.2
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #71 of 133 in ME — — —
School district RSU 18 — — —
High school in town None in town — — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.