Compare towns
Jay vs Sidney vs Livermore Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Livermore Falls has the most renters (34% rent).
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 | Jay | Sidney | Livermore Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
4,790Highest |
3,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
36.7±11.8Lowest 18% below ME |
| Sidney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Livermore Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$45,843±$6kLowest 39% below ME |
| Sidney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$147,500±$34kLowest 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$856±$126 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,399Lowest 54% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.7%±16Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Livermore Falls and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
29%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.2%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Livermore Falls 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.