Compare towns
Sidney vs Wheelock 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%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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.
| Measure | Sidney | Wheelock | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
717Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%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% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Wheelock 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 3% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$77,813±$16k 4% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
— | $939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$2,937Highest 6% below U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school 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.