Compare towns
Sidney vs Limerick vs Appleton vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Limerick has the most people working from home (15.2%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Limerick | Appleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
3,400 |
1,360Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and West Gardiner 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$96,172±$30k 29% above ME |
| Limerick and West Gardiner 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 |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
| Sidney and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,087±$150Lowest 5% below ME |
| Limerick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and West Gardiner 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% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1994 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick 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 | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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 | 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.