Compare towns
Rome vs Appleton vs Surry vs Belgrade
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).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Rome | Appleton | Surry | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215Lowest |
1,360 |
1,836 |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Appleton 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% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Rome 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 |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above 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±$36kHighest 11% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| Rome and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Rome and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry 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% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Surry 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 | Surry Public Schools | 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 | 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.