Compare towns

Belgrade vs Jackson 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%).
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($232k median).
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.

MeasureBelgradeJacksonSidney
People
Population
3,351
567Lowest
4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+10.4%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
47.3±14.6Highest
6% above ME
37.7±5.8Lowest
16% below ME
43±5.5
4% below ME
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
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.3Lowest
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%±6.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
Belgrade and Sidney 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%
41.9%
ME: 36.2%
33.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,338±$13kHighest
18% above ME
$75,167±$19kLowest
about the ME average
$83,488±$10k
12% above ME
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
5% above ME
$231,500±$16kLowest
22% 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
$629±$12Lowest
45% below ME
$1,340±$304Highest
18% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,859Highest
6% below ME
$2,651
13% below ME
$2,474Lowest
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.2%±35.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.4%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
Belgrade and Sidney 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%
13.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
78.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.4%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
1993
16 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
7% below ME
35 minHighest
41% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
20.4%±8.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
15.3%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Belgrade and Jackson 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 18
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.