What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).

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	Dayton	Sidney
People
Population	2,313Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	43±5.5Highest 4% below ME
	Sidney and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sidney and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	33.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dayton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME	$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME
	Dayton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME	$336,200±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Dayton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Lowest 7% above ME	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,872Highest 28% above ME	$2,474Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dayton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Lowest 13 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dayton 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	Dayton Public Schools	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.