Compare towns
Sidney vs Hallowell vs Oakland
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%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hallowell | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
2,592Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Hallowell 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 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell 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 12% above ME |
$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| 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 13% above ME |
$295,300±$45k about the ME average |
$236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
| Sidney and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
27 minHighest 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 02 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
| 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.