Compare towns
Durham vs Sidney vs North Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Sidney | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,790Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
| Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Berwick and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Durham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and North Berwick 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.