Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Durham vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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.
| Measure | Center Harbor | Durham | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
4,262 |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Highest 50% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Sidney 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 05 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.