Compare towns
Durham vs Hermon vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Hermon | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
6,727Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
41.1±4.7Lowest 8% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
21.6%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Hermon 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% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Hermon 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 33% above ME |
$96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| Durham and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME |
$333,600±$32k 12% above ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
$1,340±$304Lowest 18% above ME |
| Hermon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,761 9% below ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hermon 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 ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1996 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.