What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mason has the most people working from home (20.7%).

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	Mason	Sidney
People
Population	1,451Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Mason and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mason and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sidney and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mason and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S.	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S.	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
	Mason and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S.	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,049Highest 126% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mason 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	Mason School District	RSU 18
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.