What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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	Sidney	Acton
People
Population	4,790Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Acton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Acton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Sidney and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Sidney and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304 18% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Lowest 19% below ME	$2,680Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Acton 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	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	Acton Public Schools
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.