What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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	Carmel	Sidney
People
Population	2,941Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME
	Carmel and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sidney and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Carmel and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME
	Sidney and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,662Highest 12% below ME	$2,474Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Carmel and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996 19 yrs newer than ME	1996 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Carmel 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	#77 of 133 in ME	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 87/MSAD 23	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.