Compare towns
Ryegate vs Sidney vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Ryegate | Sidney | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
4,790Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Groton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ryegate and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 36% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472 11% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,659Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ryegate and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Groton 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 | — | RSU 18 | — |
| High school 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.