What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).

Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

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	Brookline	Sidney
People
Population	5,736Highest	4,790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S.
	Sidney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Brookline and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Lowest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Brookline 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.