Compare towns

Durham vs Derry 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

Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
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.

MeasureDurhamDerrySidney
People
Population
4,262Lowest
34,116Highest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
43±5.5Highest
11% above U.S.
Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Derry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5k
23% above U.S.
$108,944±$7kHighest
35% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% above U.S.
Derry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
$432,000±$17kHighest
30% above U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,547±$138Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,340±$304Lowest
5% below U.S.
Derry and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,781
21% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham and Derry 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 #60 of 120 in NH #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District RSU 18
High school in town None in town Pinkerton Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.