In Belfast, a typical home is worth $340,900 and typical rent is $962 a month. Compared with all of Waldo County, the typical home value is 32% higher, typical household income is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $303,788 to $395,091.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Belfast is in Waldo County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Waldo County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Winslow, the typical home value is $217,900: 36% less than in Belfast ($340,900).
2
The typical home in Belfast is worth $340,900,32% more than in Waldo County as a whole ($257,700).
3
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Belfast rose 5.6%; in Maine, it rose 1.6%.
4
69% of households in Belfast own their home, against 82% in Waldo County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Belfast
What homes there are in Belfast, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
United States
Kind of home: Belfast and its comparisons
Measure
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
United States
Detached house
55%
75%
70%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
16%
5%
10%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
5%
9%
19%
Mobile home
11%
13%
8%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Belfast, but it weighs less than in Waldo County: 55% against 75%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
United States
Year built: Belfast and its comparisons
Measure
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
United States
Before 1960
42%
29%
34%
26%
1960–1979
19%
18%
20%
24%
1980–1999
21%
26%
25%
25%
2000–2009
7%
17%
12%
14%
2010 or later
11%
10%
9%
11%
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200K18%
$200K–$300K17%
$300K–$500K34%
$500K–$750K18%
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Belfast and its comparisons
Measure
Belfast
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
18%
$200K–$300K
17%
$300K–$500K
34%
$500K–$750K
18%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99938%
$1,000–$1,49928%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Belfast and its comparisons
Measure
Belfast
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
38%
$1,000–$1,499
28%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,140 a month
Waldo County: $1,542 a month
Without a mortgage
$820 a month
Waldo County: $601 a month
Owners with a mortgage
49%
Waldo County: 53%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Belfast is $2,140 a month, more than in Waldo County ($1,542); without one, $820.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Belfast+79%
Waldo County+58%
Maine+56%
United States+53%
Typical rent
BelfastNo clear change
Waldo County+25%
Maine+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
BelfastNo clear change
Waldo County+40%
Maine+29%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Belfast and its comparisons
Measure
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
United States
Typical home value
+79%
+58%
+56%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+25%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+40%
+29%
+29%
The typical home value in Belfast rose 79% since 2015–2019, more than in Waldo County (58%).
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Belfast did not change clearly, according to the Census.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Belfast and its comparisons
Measure
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.2%
1.4%
3.4%
People per household
2.00
2.25
2.26
2.53
Drive alone
77%
72%
71%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
4%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
16%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.00 on average, against 2.25 in Waldo County.
In Belfast, 77% of workers drive alone to work; in Waldo County, 72%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Belfast?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Belfast, worth $340,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income in Belfast, which is $67,679 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $124,583 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Waldo County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Belfast. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $11,932 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,907
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$334,725
Total interest
$481,591
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $5,757 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,579 a month
Tight
$1,579 to $2,030 a month
Hard
more than $2,030 a month
Your payment · 52%
Compared with the typical household income in Belfast ($67,679 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,268
Property tax
$347
Home insurance
$142
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$151
You need at least $11,932 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,907; principal and interest $2,268.
The city and its county
Belfast and Waldo County
Belfast is in Waldo County, Maine. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Belfast
Map of Waldo County, Maine, with Belfast marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Belfast
Waldo County
Other cities with a page
Belfast's own numbers
Typical home value
$340,900
Typical monthly rent
$962
Typical yearly household income
$67,679
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
1.22%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Waldo County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,367
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+71%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Waldo County.
A typical home in Belfast is worth $340,900: 32% above the county and 15% above Maine. With the typical household income in Belfast ($67,679 a year), a typical home costs 5.0 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Belfast5.0 years
Waldo3.5 years
Maine4.0 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Waldo County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Waldo County rose 115% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Waldo County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Waldo County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.4% +4.4% 2016
2017: +2.6% +2.6% 2017
2018: +5.1% +5.1% 2018
2019: +8.6% +8.6% 2019
2020: +2.6% +2.6% 2020
2021: +13.9% +13.9% 2021
2022: +21.6% +21.6% 2022
2023: +9.4% +9.4% 2023
2024: +5.4% +5.4% 2024
2025: +7.1% +7.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Waldo County, Maine and the United States
Period
County
Maine
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+7.1%
+4.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+71%
+68%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+115%
+112%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Belfast next to Waldo County, Maine and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Belfast$340,900
Waldo$257,700
Maine$296,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Belfast$962
Waldo$1,021
Maine$1,139
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Belfast$67,679
Waldo$72,782
Maine$74,733
United States$80,734
See the full table
Belfast next to Waldo County and Maine
Measure
Belfast
Waldo County
Maine
U.S.
Typical home value
$340,900 ▲32% above the county
$257,700
$296,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$962 ▼6% below the county
$1,021
$1,139
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$67,679 ▼7% below the county
$72,782
$74,733
$80,734
Households that own their home
69% ▼13 points below the county
82%
74%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,145 ▲54% above the county
$2,684
$3,036
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.22% ▲0.18 points above the county
1.04%
1.02%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
47% ▲5 points above the county
42%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Waldo County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Belfast
For a typical $340,900 home in Belfast, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Belfast's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,907a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$11,932
Cash to close
$22,159
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $151
Conventional, 5% down$2,844a month
Down payment
$17,045
Cash to close
$27,272
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $162
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,336a month
Down payment
$68,180
Cash to close
$78,407
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,651a month
Down payment
$51,135
Cash to close
$61,362
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Belfast
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,907
$11,932
$334,725
7.18%
FHA MIP · $151
$22,159
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,844
$17,045
$323,855
7.18%
PMI · $162
$27,272
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,336
$68,180
$272,720
7.18%
None
$78,407
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,651
$51,135
$289,765
8.18%
None
$61,362
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Belfast is $962 a month: 6% below the county. In Belfast, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Waldo County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,367 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.29 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Waldo County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,132
$21.77
$45,280
1 bedroom
$1,148
$22.08
$45,920
2 bedrooms
$1,367
$26.29
$54,680
3 bedrooms
$1,766
$33.96
$70,640
4 bedrooms
$1,981
$38.10
$79,240
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Belfast
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Belfast is in ZIP code 04915.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,320: $47 less than the fair market rent for Waldo County ($1,367).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Belfast, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
04915
$1,090
$1,110
$1,320
$1,710
$1,910
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
04915 $1,320$1,710
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Belfast when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Waldo County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Belfast or Waldo County. The ones below are statewide in Maine: they work in Belfast the same as in the rest of the state.
With the Maine state agency's First Home mortgage, the buyer gets $5,000 for the down payment and closing costs (up to $14,000 for 2- to 4-unit homes), with no second mortgage.Offered by MaineHousing.
Maine state agency mortgage with a rate 1% lower than its First Home mortgage and a $10,000 grant for the down payment and closing costs, with no second mortgage; for people who have never owned a home and never lived in a home their parents or guardians owned, or who were in foster care.Offered by MaineHousing.
No legal help resource on our list is for Belfast or Waldo County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Belfast and all of Waldo County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Belfast?
The typical home value in Belfast is $340,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Waldo County it is $257,700.
How much does it cost to rent in Belfast?
Typical rent in Belfast is $962 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Waldo County is $1,367.
What is the FHA loan limit in Belfast?
Belfast uses the FHA limit for all of Waldo County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Belfast?
The typical homeowner in Belfast pays $4,145 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.22% of the home’s value; in Waldo County, the rate is 1.04%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Belfast?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Waldo County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
