City profile · Maine · Census ACS 2023

Belfast, ME

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Belfast - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,985
Residents
$61,322
Median income
$307,700
Median home
$1,438
Median rent (state)

Belfast - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Belfast lands in the 37th percentile for household income and the 80th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

37th
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
57th
percentile, median rent
80th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Belfast, ME

6,985 people live in Belfast, Maine - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Belfast brings in $61,322 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.5%. Typical homes in Belfast are valued around $307,700, and the median resident age is 56.7 years. Educational attainment runs 48.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 42.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 15 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 36% from five years earlier. Belfast reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 632.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 44.1°F with 48.8 inches of precipitation per year and 71.5 inches of snowfall.

Maine tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,438 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Maine run around $273, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 40.6 out of 100 (Low).

Population

6,985 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maine

Median Household Income

$61,322 /yr

Poverty 10.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maine average

How does Belfast compare to other US cities?

Belfast measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% pricier than other cities
Safety 80% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Maine, Belfast ranks #19 of 73 Maine cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Belfast against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maine only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maine-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Belfast toward the top of Maine's cities

Among the 154 Maine cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Belfast ranks #27 - the 82nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Belfast only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#64 of 145
56th percentile in Maine
Median Gross Rent
#71 of 154
46th percentile in Maine
Median Home Value
#46 of 151
70th percentile in Maine
Poverty Rate
#53 of 154
66th percentile in Maine
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#27 of 154
82nd percentile in Maine

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maine only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

37thIncome percentile
80thSafety percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income · 80th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Belfast's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Belfast's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 52 Avg. percentile National median
Belfast's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Belfast's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$307,700 34th percentile more affordable than 34% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Belfast $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Belfast, ME Belfast, ME's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Belfast, ME-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Belfast, ME median $61,322/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Belfast, ME's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Belfast, ME. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,985
Median Income
$61,322
Median Home Value
$307,700
Median Age
56.7
Poverty Rate
10.5%
Labor force participation
42.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
632.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
632.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.1°F
Annual Precipitation
48.8"
Annual Snowfall
71.5"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,900 residents6,950 residents7,000 residents7,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,954 residents 6,988 residents ▲ +0.5%
Belfast's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
15
housing units authorized
Single-Family
15
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 11
2020 40
2021 11
2022 16
2023 26
2024 15

Permit volume increased 36% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.1%
Carpool
10.2%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
4.8%
Work from Home
12.3%
Other
0.8%

Based on 2,484 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maine - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$273
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maine state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maine state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Belfast sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,438/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
40.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maine

Rockland
6,991 people
Topsham
6,962 people
Skowhegan
6,638 people
Gorham
7,365 people
Caribou
7,427 people
Old
7,439 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Belfast's 6,985 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Robertsdale, AL
6,985 people
Youngtown, AZ
6,985 people
Staples, CT
6,985 people
West Slope, OR
6,985 people
Rutherford, PA
6,982 people
Plymouth Meeting, PA
6,990 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Belfast's $61,322 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Halifax, NC
$61,321 median income
Chippewa Park, OH
$61,321 median income
Karlstad, MN
$61,324 median income
Deshler, OH
$61,324 median income
Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH
$61,320 median income
Shasta Lake, CA
$61,319 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Belfast, ME Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Belfast, ME - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.8% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.4% White 87.8% Black or African American 1.9% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.5% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Belfast compares to nearby Maine cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Belfast (this city) 6,985 $61,322
Rockland 6,991 $55,276
Topsham 6,962 $80,545
Skowhegan 6,638 $46,625
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ME FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Belfast, ME?

What is the population of Belfast, ME? +

The population of Belfast, ME stands at 6,985 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Belfast, ME? +

The median household income in Belfast is $61,322 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Belfast? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Belfast; the closest available measure is the Maine state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maine vary by metro area.

Is Belfast, ME safe? +

Belfast has a total crime rate of 632.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Belfast, ME? +

The median home value in Belfast is $307,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Belfast? +

Belfast has an average annual temperature of 44.1°F, 48.8 inches of precipitation, and 71.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.