What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k 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	Solon
People
Population	4,790Highest	963Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME	45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average
	Solon 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%	17.2%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Solon 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%	23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Solon 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%	25%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sidney and Solon 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	$69,205±$20kLowest 7% below ME
	Sidney and Solon 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	$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME	$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Highest 19% below ME	$1,854Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Highest ME: 48.4%	14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sidney and Solon 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%	10.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	52 minHighest 113% above ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Solon 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	RSU 74/MSAD 74
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.