Compare towns
Raymond vs Strafford vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raymond has the most people working from home (32.3%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Belgrade has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Raymond | Strafford | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,610Highest |
1,372Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±4.1Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,194±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,800±$42k 19% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $965±$397 32% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,139 about the U.S. average |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,859Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±62.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.3%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Raymond 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 | #112 of 133 in ME | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Strafford School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.