Compare towns
Eddington vs Mapleton vs Sidney vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eddington has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.6).
Orono is a college town. 59.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Eddington | Mapleton | Sidney | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,223 |
1,884Lowest |
4,790 |
11,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.9±4.1Highest 23% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Eddington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,350±$18k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
| Mapleton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,000±$45k 10% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$262,900±$39k 11% below ME |
| Sidney and Eddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$49 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,280±$117 12% above ME |
| Sidney and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,758 9% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$4,778Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Eddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Eddington 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 63/MSAD 63 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.