What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).

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	Pittsfield	Sidney
People
Population	4,105Lowest	4,790Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S.	43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S.
	Sidney and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pittsfield and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pittsfield and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S.	$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Sidney and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S.	$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
	Sidney and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S.
	Sidney and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,694Highest 83% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Pittsfield 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	#93 of 120 in NH	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Pittsfield School District	RSU 18
High school in town	Pittsfield High School	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.