What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

Auburn has the most renters (40.9% rent).

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	Auburn
People
Population	4,790Lowest	24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Highest 4% below ME	41.4±2.7Lowest 8% below ME
	Sidney and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	21.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Auburn 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%	27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME	$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME	$282,000±$12kLowest 5% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME	$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME
	Sidney and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Lowest 19% below ME	$3,687Highest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	22 minLowest 12% below ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Auburn 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	#110 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	Auburn Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.