Compare towns

Winthrop vs Jefferson vs Sidney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
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.

MeasureWinthropJeffersonSidney
People
Population
6,191Highest
2,647Lowest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.1%
ME: +2.6%
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.6±5.3Highest
about the ME average
38.1±4.9Lowest
15% below ME
43±5.5
4% below ME
Winthrop and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
28%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
23.1%±5.6
ME: 18.1%
Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±5Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.7%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Winthrop and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
33.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
4.6%±2.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Jefferson and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,470±$4kHighest
16% above ME
$85,078±$17k
14% above ME
$83,488±$10kLowest
12% above ME
Winthrop and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$41kLowest
about the ME average
$311,600±$35k
5% above ME
$336,200±$34kHighest
13% above ME
Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$892±$319Lowest
22% below ME
$1,120±$130
about the ME average
$1,340±$304Highest
18% above ME
Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,506Highest
15% above ME
$2,587
15% below ME
$2,474Lowest
19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±22.4Highest
ME: 48.4%
29.8%±25.1
ME: 48.4%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Winthrop and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
3.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
83.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.4%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
41% above ME
30 min
23% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
23.1%±6.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.9%±3.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
14.3%±5.9
ME: 15.9%
Winthrop 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 #12 of 133 in ME #45 of 133 in ME #15 of 133 in ME
School district Winthrop Public Schools Jefferson Public Schools RSU 18
High school in town Winthrop High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
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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.