Compare towns
Sidney vs Franklin 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%).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Franklin | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
8,799Highest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Franklin 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin 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% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Franklin 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. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% 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 |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 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% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Oakland 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Franklin School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2Highest |
14.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.