Compare towns
Belgrade vs Epping vs Sidney vs Orrington
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 homeowners (93.8%).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Sidney has the youngest population (median age 43).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Epping | Sidney | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,790 |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Orrington 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Orrington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Epping 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 9% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Epping and Orrington 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,167±$135 17% below U.S. |
| Epping and Sidney 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,823 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Epping School District | RSU 18 | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.