Compare towns
Sidney vs Atkinson vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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.
| Measure | Sidney | Atkinson | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
7,267Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Union 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.