Compare towns
Durham vs Sidney vs Hallowell
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 highest household income ($99k).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 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 | Sidney | Hallowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
4,790Highest |
2,592Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
| Hallowell 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest 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% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell 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 |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$68,398±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$295,300±$45kLowest about the ME average |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
| Sidney and Hallowell 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 |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hallowell 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% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Hallowell 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 | RSU 02 |
| 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.