What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	4,790Highest	2,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Highest 4% below ME	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME
	Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jefferson 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 ME: 22.4%	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson 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%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jefferson 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±$10kLowest 12% above ME	$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME
	Jefferson 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±$34kHighest 13% above ME	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME
	Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME	$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average
	Sidney and Jefferson 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	$2,587Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Jefferson 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	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	Jefferson 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.