What stands out worked out from the figures below

Solvay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Sidney has the most people working from home (9%).

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	Solvay	Sidney
People
Population	6,544Highest	5,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average	41±6.1Highest 3% above NY
	Sidney and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	21.4%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Solvay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Solvay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,166±$7kHighest 29% below NY	$52,347±$9kLowest 39% below NY
	Solvay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$150,000±$13kHighest 65% below NY	$122,100±$14kLowest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$946±$77Highest 42% below NY	$898±$169Lowest 45% below NY
	Solvay and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,459Highest 32% below NY	$3,329Lowest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	39.5%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sidney and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%	19.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	55.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 41% below NY	24 minHighest 25% below NY
Work from home	6.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sidney and Solvay 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	—	#228 of 484 in NY
School district	—	SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.8
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.