What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vassalboro has the most affordable homes ($244k median).

Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Vassalboro	Sidney
People
Population	4,592Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.5±3.6Highest about the ME average	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME
	Vassalboro and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Vassalboro and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±5Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Vassalboro and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,300±$7kLowest 3% below ME	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME
	Sidney and Vassalboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$244,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,006±$188Lowest 12% below ME	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Vassalboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,117Lowest 30% below ME	$2,474Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.8%±25.3Highest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Vassalboro and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	10.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Vassalboro 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	#107 of 133 in ME	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Vassalboro Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.