Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Franklin 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
Oakland has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Mapleton | Franklin | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,884 |
1,628Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
| Franklin 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$10k 12% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Mapleton and Sidney 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
| Sidney and Franklin 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Franklin 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney and Franklin 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 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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 Our Story | 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.