Compare towns
Sidney vs Braintree vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Oakland has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Braintree | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,026Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Sidney 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
| 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.