What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

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	Freedom	Sidney
People
Population	1,494Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sidney and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S.	$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Sidney and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S.	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
	Freedom and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,340±$304 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Highest 12% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freedom and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freedom 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	Freedom School District	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.