Compare towns

Sandgate vs Sidney vs Jay

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).

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.

MeasureSandgateSidneyJay
People
Population
435Lowest
4,790Highest
471
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
43±5.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
52.1±10.5
34% above U.S.
Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sandgate and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
$83,488±$10kHighest
3% above U.S.
$74,792±$25k
7% below U.S.
Sidney and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
$336,200±$34kHighest
about the U.S. average
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,778
11% below U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1996
16 yrs newer than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
Work from home
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Jay 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 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school 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.