Compare towns
Rome vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
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 | Lee | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,215 |
925Lowest |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
| Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Rome and Lee 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$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 |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME |
$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 |
— | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829 40% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Lee 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 | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.