Compare towns
Belgrade vs Castleton vs Sidney vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Sidney | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
4,453 |
4,790 |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9 3% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16k 4% below U.S. |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #15 of 133 in ME | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 18 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.