What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the highest household income ($103k).

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	Madison	Sidney
People
Population	2,680Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 31% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Madison 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	Madison 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.