Compare towns
Sidney vs Acton vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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.
| Measure | Sidney | Acton | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
2,721Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
| Acton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
| Sidney and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
— | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| 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 |
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.