What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).

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	Walpole
People
Population	4,790Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S.
	Walpole 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 U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sidney and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole 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 U.S.: 35.7%	32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walpole 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±$10kHighest 3% above U.S.	$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Sidney and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Sidney and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Sidney and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S.	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole 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 U.S.: 12.5%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sidney and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 18	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.