Compare towns
Sidney vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Oakland has the most renters (22.4% rent).
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 | Chester | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,992Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Chester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Oakland 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 3% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$77,813±$16k 4% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Oakland 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.