Compare towns
Sidney vs Fairfield vs Belgrade
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%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
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 | Fairfield | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Belgrade 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% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairfield and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 |
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.