What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orrington	Sidney
People
Population	3,853Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME
	Orrington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Orrington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Orrington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME	$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME
	Orrington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME
	Sidney and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,167±$135Lowest about the ME average	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,823Highest 7% below ME	$2,474Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sidney and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Lowest 12 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Orrington 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	#41 of 133 in ME	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Orrington Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.