Compare towns
Rome vs Unity vs Smithfield 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%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Smithfield | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
1,858 |
856Lowest |
3,351Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
| Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Rome and Smithfield 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 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 | — | — | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.