Compare towns
Durham vs Franklin 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%).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
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 | Franklin | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
8,799Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Franklin 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. |
$4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Franklin School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— |
| 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.