Compare towns
Belgrade vs Danforth vs Wayne 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Belgrade | Danforth | Wayne | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351 |
666Lowest |
1,101 |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
| Wayne and Danforth 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Danforth 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 ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Wayne and Sidney 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 |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 6% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Wayne 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Belgrade 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 38 | 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.