Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Oakland has the most renters (22.4% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,884Lowest |
2,522 |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.2±6.9 3% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%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% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 3% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Mapleton 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$2,439 22% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Plainfield 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.