What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mercer has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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	Mercer
People
Population	4,790Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME	43.4±4.5Highest 3% below ME
	Mercer and Sidney 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%	20.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Mercer 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%	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sidney and Mercer 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	$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME	$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Lowest 18% above ME	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME
	Mercer and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Highest 19% below ME	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mercer 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%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest 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%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer 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	—
School district	RSU 18	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.