Compare towns
Mars Hill vs Belfast
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Belfast has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Mars Hill | Belfast |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
6,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$67,679±$9kHighest 9% below ME |
| Belfast and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$962±$92Highest 16% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 10 yrs older than ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
22 minHighest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belfast and Mars Hill 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 | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.