Compare towns
Fairfield vs Sidney vs Sheldon vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.
| Measure | Fairfield | Sidney | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
4,790Highest |
2,267 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Sheldon 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | RSU 18 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.