Compare towns
Jay vs Sandgate vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471 |
435Lowest |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,778 11% below U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1996 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.