Compare towns
Sidney vs Ira 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 the most people working from home (14.3%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Ira | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
381Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Ira 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. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 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 |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | #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 |
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.