Compare towns

Sidney vs Sullivan 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%).
Sullivan has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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.

MeasureSidneySullivanOakland
People
Population
4,790
1,246Lowest
6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43±5.5
4% below ME
47.1±15Highest
5% above ME
40.2±6.9Lowest
10% below ME
Sullivan 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
ME: 18.1%
18%±5.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
23.8%±5.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
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
ME: 22.4%
22.5%±2.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.2%±3.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Sullivan 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%
26%
ME: 36.2%
24.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
Sullivan and Oakland 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
$59,643±$14kLowest
20% below ME
$77,813±$16k
4% above ME
Sidney and Oakland 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
$222,000±$33kLowest
25% below ME
$236,000±$23k
20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,340±$304Highest
18% above ME
$883±$114Lowest
22% below ME
$939±$74
18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,474Highest
19% below ME
$2,228Lowest
27% below ME
$2,439
20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
34.9%±23.6
ME: 48.4%
65.7%±14.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
Oakland and Sullivan 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%
13.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.1%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
85.2%
ME: 74.3%
77.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
about the ME average
26 min
7% above ME
27 minHighest
8% above ME
Work from home
14.3%±5.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
12.6%±7.9
ME: 15.9%
8.4%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Sidney and Sullivan 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 RSU 24 RSU 18
High school in town None in town Sumner Memorial High School Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.5Lowest
14.2Highest
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.