Compare towns
Sidney vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Reading | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
699Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Reading and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Sidney 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%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% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Reading and Sidney 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Reading and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.