Compare towns

Sidney vs Halifax 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%).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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.

MeasureSidneyHalifaxBelgrade
People
Population
4,790
7,748Highest
3,351Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
41.9±4.7Lowest
8% 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%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Belgrade and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Belgrade and Halifax 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.
$118,556±$11kHighest
47% above U.S.
$88,338±$13k
9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
$481,500±$51kHighest
45% above U.S.
$312,200±$44kLowest
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
$1,804±$375Highest
28% above U.S.
$857±$108Lowest
39% below U.S.
Halifax and Sidney 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.
$6,840Highest
119% above U.S.
$2,859
8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.6%±37.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.2%±35.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Halifax 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%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±5.3Lowest
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 #120 of 282 in MA #71 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 Halifax 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.