Compare towns
Sidney vs Industry 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%).
Industry has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Oakland has the most renters (22.4% rent).
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 | Industry | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
988Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Sidney and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Oakland 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% |
22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Industry 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 |
$63,056±$19kLowest 16% 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 |
$205,600±$31kLowest 31% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
| Sidney and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,793Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Oakland 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school 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.