Compare towns
Rome vs Appleton vs Belgrade vs Brooklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Brooklin has the most expensive homes ($339k 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 | Rome | Appleton | Belgrade | Brooklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,360 |
3,351Highest |
869Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
+0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
49.2±3.7Highest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.2 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+ | 24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooklin and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$68,750±$8k 8% below ME |
| Belgrade and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME |
| Brooklin and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829 40% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$1,792Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.5%±25 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Brooklin 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 | — |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | Brooklin Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.