Compare towns
Rome vs Millinocket vs Belgrade vs Smithfield
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%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Millinocket | Belgrade | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
4,115Highest |
3,351 |
856Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.7% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
54.2±6.2 21% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
| Smithfield and Millinocket 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% |
16.1%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Millinocket and Smithfield 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% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
| Smithfield and Belgrade 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 |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below 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 |
$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
| Rome and Smithfield 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 |
$1,580Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Smithfield 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% |
17.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | #98 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Millinocket Public Schools | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | — | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.