Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Manchester vs Belgrade
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Manchester | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,884Lowest |
115,643Highest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Belgrade and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Belgrade 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Belgrade 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 3% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$365,600±$7kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$857±$108 39% below U.S. |
| Manchester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,922Highest 90% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.