Compare towns
Sidney vs Springfield vs West Gardiner
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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
West Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Springfield | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,122Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Springfield and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and West Gardiner 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30k 19% above U.S. |
| Springfield and West Gardiner 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 |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$305,100±$42kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Springfield 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,282Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Springfield 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.