Compare towns
Durham vs Lancaster 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 homeowners (95.4%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
8,606Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Durham 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Nashoba | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.