Compare towns
Sidney vs Wolcott 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%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Oakland has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Wolcott | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,507Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9 9% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Wolcott 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% |
22.8%±5.2Lowest 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Oakland 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakland and Wolcott 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. |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% 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 |
$221,300±$23kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$236,000±$23k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Wolcott 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. |
$3,930Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Oakland 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District | 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.