Compare towns

Sidney vs Dixmont 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%).
Dixmont has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureSidneyDixmontBelgrade
People
Population
4,790Highest
1,207Lowest
3,351
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%
ME: +2.6%
+1.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43±5.5Lowest
4% below ME
50.9±4.7Highest
14% above ME
47.3±14.6
6% above ME
Dixmont 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%
15.9%±4.2Lowest
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%
19.4%±4.7
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±6.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
Belgrade and Dixmont 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%
24.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
49.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.1%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
5.7%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Belgrade and Dixmont 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
$75,952±$14kLowest
about the ME average
$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
$190,700±$22kLowest
36% below ME
$312,200±$44k
5% above ME
Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,340±$304
18% above ME
$1,348±$62Highest
18% above ME
$857±$108Lowest
25% below ME
Dixmont and Sidney 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
$1,548Lowest
49% below ME
$2,859Highest
6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42.2%±70.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
17.2%±35.9
ME: 48.4%
Dixmont 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%
7.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.7%
ME: 74.3%
93.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
1992
15 yrs newer than ME
1985Lowest
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
about the ME average
35 minHighest
40% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
Work from home
14.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21.9%±11.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
20.4%±8.6
ME: 15.9%
Dixmont and Belgrade 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 — #71 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 RSU 19 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.