What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sidney	Methuen
People
Population	4,790Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
	Sidney and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sidney and Methuen 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S.	$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.	$5,061Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Methuen 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	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 18	Methuen
High school in town	None in town	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
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.