Compare towns
Sidney vs Madison vs Union
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%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Madison | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
4,782 |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Madison 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% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Union 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Union 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 |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Sidney and Union 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 |
$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Sidney and Union 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 |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Sidney and Union 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 |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Union 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% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Union 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.