Compare towns
Sidney vs Gorham 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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Gorham | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,682Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% 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 |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| 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.