Compare towns
Proctor vs Ryegate vs Sidney vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Sidney has the most people working from home (14.3%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Proctor | Ryegate | Sidney | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,059Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Proctor 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — | RSU 18 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.