What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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	Portsmouth
People
Population	4,790Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S.	42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Sidney and Portsmouth 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%	14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Portsmouth 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 U.S.: 35.7%	64%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Portsmouth 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 3% above U.S.	$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.	$8,018Highest 157% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Portsmouth 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 18	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	None in town	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.