Compare towns
Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647 |
1,884Lowest |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,474 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Mapleton 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | 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 |
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.