What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k 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	Springfield
People
Population	4,790Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME	52.4±7Highest 17% above ME
	Springfield 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%	18.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Sidney and Springfield 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%	21.6%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Springfield 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%	17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sidney and Springfield 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	$60,833±$23kLowest 19% below ME
	Sidney and Springfield 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	$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304 18% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Highest 19% below ME	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.2%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 21% above ME
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sidney and Springfield 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 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.