Compare towns
Belgrade vs Plainfield vs Oakland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.
| Measure | Belgrade | Plainfield | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,314Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Plainfield 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% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$77,813±$16k 4% below U.S. |
| Belgrade and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Belgrade 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. |
$1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Oakland 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Plainfield 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
| 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.