Compare towns

Orange vs Sidney vs Topsham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Topsham has the most homeowners (90.3%).

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.

MeasureOrangeSidneyTopsham
People
Population
957Lowest
4,790Highest
999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±5.3Highest
29% above U.S.
43±5.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
50.1±5.9
29% above U.S.
Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below U.S.
$83,488±$10kHighest
3% above U.S.
$72,308±$60k
10% below U.S.
Sidney and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
33% below U.S.
$336,200±$34kHighest
about the U.S. average
$222,900±$56k
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153
6% below U.S.
$1,340±$304Highest
5% below U.S.
$908±$398Lowest
36% below U.S.
Sidney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545
14% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
$4,006Highest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
91.9%±28.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Sidney and Topsham 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 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 RSU 18 Waits River Union High District #36
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

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.