What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

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	Alstead	Sidney
People
Population	1,551Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S.	$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Sidney and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S.	$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
	Sidney and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,340±$304 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Alstead 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
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.