What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).

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	Jefferson	Sidney
People
Population	2,647Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME	43±5.5Highest 4% below ME
	Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	23.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson and Sidney 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	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME	$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME
	Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME
	Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME
	Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Highest 15% below ME	$2,474Lowest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4%	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.