Compare towns
Durham vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($322k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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.
| Measure | Durham | Dover | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
5,930Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Dover and Sidney 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Dover 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% |
84.8%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% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #1 of 282 in MA | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.