Compare towns
Durham vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Needham | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Needham 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| 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%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Needham | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.