What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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	Benson	Sidney
People
Population	784Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Benson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Sidney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.	$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S.
	Sidney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,125Highest 32% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 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	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson 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
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	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.