Compare towns

Brooklin vs Sidney vs Beals

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklin has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Beals has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

MeasureBrooklinSidneyBeals
People
Population
869
4,790Highest
498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.4%
ME: +2.6%
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-12.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±3.7Highest
10% above ME
43±5.5Lowest
4% below ME
48±15.6
7% above ME
Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
23.1%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.1%±6.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Sidney and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.7%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
30.1%±5.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
33.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
37.6%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.8%±5.5
ME: 5.8%
Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,750±$8k
8% below ME
$83,488±$10kHighest
12% above ME
$64,063±$14kLowest
14% below ME
Sidney and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,400±$90kHighest
14% above ME
$336,200±$34k
13% above ME
$256,700±$45kLowest
13% below ME
Brooklin and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,236±$137
9% above ME
$1,340±$304Highest
18% above ME
$907±$378Lowest
20% below ME
Sidney and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,792Lowest
41% below ME
$2,474
19% below ME
$2,580Highest
15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.5%±25Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.4%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
7.4%±71.2Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Brooklin and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.4%
ME: 74.3%
89.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
83.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
4% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
21 minLowest
17% below ME
Work from home
16.5%±6.8
ME: 15.9%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.6%±10.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
Beals and Brooklin 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 — #15 of 133 in ME —
School district Brooklin Public Schools RSU 18 Beals Public Schools
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

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.