Compare towns
Appleton vs Oakland vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Oakland has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Appleton | Oakland | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
6,309Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Appleton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
| Sidney and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Appleton 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.