Compare towns
Belgrade vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Sidney has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Belgrade | Castle Hill | Mapleton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
281Lowest |
1,884 |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Mapleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108 25% below ME |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 |
| 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 | 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.