What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).

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	Sidney	Center Harbor
People
Population	4,790Highest	955Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.	60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sidney and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.	$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Center Harbor and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304 5% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.	$4,667Highest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sidney and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Center Harbor 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	—
School district	RSU 18	—
High school 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.