Compare towns
Sidney vs Patten 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%).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
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 | Patten | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,154Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest 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% |
38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Sidney 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 |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% 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 |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% 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 |
$389±$99Lowest 66% 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 |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Patten 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% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Patten 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.