What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooksville has the oldest population (median age 61.4).

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	Brooksville	Sidney
People
Population	853Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	61.4±6.3Highest 37% above ME	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	13%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	41.6%±10.6Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Brooksville and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,316±$20kLowest 25% below ME	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME
	Sidney and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,900±$113kHighest 32% above ME	$336,200±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Brooksville and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,307±$68Lowest 15% above ME	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Brooksville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,945Lowest 36% below ME	$2,474Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Brooksville and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	16.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Brooksville 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	Brooksville Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.