The Town FilesBelfast, Maine
City in Waldo County · population 6,938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $340,900
- Household income
- $67,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 72 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 60.6
Belfast is a city of 6,938 people in Waldo County, Maine. The median home is worth $340,900, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Maine towns, hipper than 98% of Maine towns, more seaside character than 96% of Maine towns.
How Belfast ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Belfast is worth $340,900, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $67,679, which is more affordable than 12% of Maine towns. Median rent is $962 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Belfast | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $340,900 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $962 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $67,679 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.5% | — |
Who lives in Belfast
| People | Belfast | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.6 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.1% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.9% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 90.0% |
Weather in Belfast
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 71.5 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Belfast since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 18, 1996.
Severe weather in Waldo County since 1996
Waldo County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waldo County
Waldo County had 11,273 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,674 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Belfast itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Belfast
4 public schools with 1,155 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast Area High School | 9-12 | 478 | 12.0 |
| Troy A Howard Middle School | 6-8 | 343 | 10.7 |
| Captain Albert W. Stevens School | PK-5 | 247 | 9.9 |
| East Belfast School | PK-2 | 87 | 10.9 |
Towns near Belfast
- Searsport, ME5.7 mi · 2,649 people · home $224,400
- Camden, ME14.2 mi · 5,232 people · home $520,600
- Camden, ME14.8 mi · 3,850 people · home $498,800
- Bucksport, ME15.9 mi · 2,832 people · home $214,300
- Winterport, ME16.6 mi · 3,817 people · home $283,000
- Rockport, ME18.0 mi · 3,644 people · home $469,000
- Bucksport, ME19.9 mi · 4,944 people · home $252,300
- Rockland, ME21.5 mi · 6,936 people · home $245,800
Belfast questions
Is Belfast, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Belfast scores better for retirees than 98% of Maine towns and quieter than 49%. 39.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.6).
How much does a house cost in Belfast?
The median owner-occupied home in Belfast is valued at $340,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,679, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $962 a month.
What is the weather like in Belfast?
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 71.5 inches of snow.
Does Belfast get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Belfast in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)