Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls vs Belgrade
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).
Steep Falls has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
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 | Steep Falls | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,884 |
1,861Lowest |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
| Belgrade and Steep Falls 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% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Steep Falls 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% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Mapleton 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 |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
| 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±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
| Sidney and Belgrade 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,273Highest 8% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 18 |
| 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.