Compare towns
Durham vs Mendon 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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,113Lowest |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%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%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Mendon 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. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Mendon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school 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.


