Compare towns

Sidney vs Perry 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%).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureSidneyPerryOakland
People
Population
4,790
744Lowest
6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-9.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43±5.5
4% below ME
45.5±11.4Highest
about the ME average
40.2±6.9Lowest
10% below ME
Perry and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.1%±5.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.1%±4.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
23.8%±5.2
ME: 18.1%
Perry and Oakland 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%
21%±6.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.2%±3.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Perry 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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
31.6%
ME: 36.2%
24.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Oakland and Perry 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
$82,056±$4k
10% above ME
$77,813±$16kLowest
4% above ME
Sidney and Perry 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
$196,400±$13kLowest
34% below ME
$236,000±$23k
20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,340±$304Highest
18% above ME
—
$939±$74Lowest
18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,474
19% below ME
$3,132Highest
3% above ME
$2,439Lowest
20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
65.7%±14.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
Oakland and Perry 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%
4.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
ME: 74.3%
91.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
77.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
1990
13 yrs newer than ME
1982Lowest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
about the ME average
26 min
6% above ME
27 minHighest
8% above ME
Work from home
14.3%±5.9
ME: 15.9%
23.4%±11.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.4%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Perry 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 — #23 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 Perry Public Schools 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 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.