Compare towns
Sidney vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
West Gardiner has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Worcester | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
831Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Gardiner and Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$96,172±$30kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner 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±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42k 8% below U.S. |
| Sidney and West Gardiner 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Sidney and West Gardiner 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,282Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None 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.