Compare towns
China vs Rye vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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.
| Measure | China | Rye | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Lowest |
5,611Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| China and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rye and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Rye and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 19% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Rye School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.