Compare towns
Durham vs Saco 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%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Saco | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
20,819Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
| Saco 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Saco 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% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco 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±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$83,488±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
| Durham and Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 25% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.