Compare towns
China vs Albion vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the highest household income ($96k).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | China | Albion | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526 |
2,204Lowest |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Albion and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| China and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$230,900±$31kLowest 22% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
$1,987Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Albion and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Albion 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.