What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carthage has the most kids (31.5% under 18).

Sidney has the most people working from home (6.3%).

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	Carthage	Sidney
People
Population	3,510Lowest	3,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	27.3±5.6Lowest 31% below NY	33±14.3Highest 17% below NY
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	31.5%±6.3Highest NY: 20.5%	21.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	14.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	0.8%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,125±$9kHighest 32% below NY	$50,208±$14kLowest 42% below NY
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,200±$22kHighest 69% below NY	$120,700±$13kLowest 72% below NY
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$913±$91Highest 44% below NY	$902±$196Lowest 44% below NY
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,943Lowest 55% below NY	$3,495Highest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.6%±13Lowest NY: 52.1%	39.8%±16.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest NY: 14%	21%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	42.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% below NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	2%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.3%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.