Compare towns
Sidney vs Appleton vs Vassalboro
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%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Vassalboro has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Sidney | Appleton | Vassalboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,592 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.5±3.6 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Vassalboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Vassalboro and Sidney 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% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Vassalboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Vassalboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$72,300±$7k 3% below ME |
| Sidney and Vassalboro 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 |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$244,300±$22k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,006±$188Lowest 12% below ME |
| Sidney and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,117Lowest 30% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
54.8%±25.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Vassalboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Appleton 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 | — | #107 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Appleton Public Schools | Vassalboro Public Schools |
| 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.