Compare towns
Durham vs Sanford 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%).
Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).
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 | Sanford | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
22,247Highest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+125.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
42.1±2.8Lowest 6% 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%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±2.2Lowest 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% |
20.8%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Sanford 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±0.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Sanford 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 |
$72,524±$7kLowest about the ME average |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$280,200±$10kLowest 6% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,152±$72Lowest about the ME average |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
| Sidney and Sanford 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 |
$3,708 22% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±7.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sanford 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% |
10.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
28 minHighest 14% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±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 | #100 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Sanford Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.7 |
— |
| 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.