Compare towns
Bethel vs Naples vs Rumford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).
Naples has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Bethel | Naples | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,617Lowest |
3,985 |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
49.8±6.8Lowest 11% above ME |
50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME |
| Rumford and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bethel and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
37.9% ME: 36.2% |
18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Rumford and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$23k 21% below ME |
$78,188±$13kHighest 5% above ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Naples and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $344,900±$37kHighest 16% above ME |
$340,100±$48k 15% above ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Bethel and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$43 24% below ME |
$1,941±$625Highest 70% above ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,835Highest 7% below ME |
$2,784 8% below ME |
$1,988Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±15.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.9%±40.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Naples and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 5% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
26.7%±11.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bethel and Naples 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 | #49 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Telstar High School | Lake Region High School | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.