What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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	Rye	Sidney
People
Population	5,611Highest	4,790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rye and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Rye and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#15 of 133 in ME
School district	Rye 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.