Compare towns
Alfred vs Sidney vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Alfred | Sidney | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
4,790Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$336,200±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
| Sidney and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543Highest 17% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Sidney 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 18 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.