What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has the most people working from home (6.3%).

Carthage has the most kids (31.5% under 18).

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	Carthage
People
Population	3,931Highest	3,510Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	33±14.3Highest 17% below NY	27.3±5.6Lowest 31% below NY
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	31.5%±6.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%	10.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	4.7%±3.8Highest NY: 7%
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,208±$14kLowest 42% below NY	$58,125±$9kHighest 32% below NY
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$120,700±$13kLowest 72% below NY	$131,200±$22kHighest 69% below NY
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$902±$196Lowest 44% below NY	$913±$91Highest 44% below NY
	Carthage and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,495Highest 47% below NY	$2,943Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±16.3Highest NY: 52.1%	37.6%±13Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21%Lowest NY: 14%	25.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	43.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 5 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 25% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	6.3%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%	2%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sidney and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.